Lake Havasu Unified board rescinds contract offer to Michael Skinner; affirms interim and superintendent staffing

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — The Lake Havasu Unified School District board voted May 27 to rescind a contract offer to Michael Skinner and clarified several personnel matters after a short executive session.

The board unanimously approved a motion to rescind the contract offer to Michael Skinner. Board members present voted in favor of the motion, which passed on a recorded roll call. The board also confirmed that Amy Barney will remain interim principal at Thunderbolt Middle School and announced that Dr. Stone has returned as superintendent.

Why it matters: The decisions change the district’s immediate leadership structure at the school and district levels and resolve questions the board said had arisen after recent personnel changes. Board members stated the actions were intended to maintain continuity at the middle school while the superintendent resumes leadership.

Details of the votes and motions: During the meeting the board approved agenda item 2.1 by voice vote. The board then moved into executive session and later returned to open session. After returning, a board member moved to rescind the contract offer to Michael Skinner; another board member seconded. The motion received recorded affirmative votes from the members named on the roll call and was declared approved.

On staffing, a board member announced that Amy Barney will remain as interim principal at Thunderbolt Middle School, saying she “has done an amazing job” and the board was “thankful that she has agreed to continue to stay in that role at this time.” The board also said Dr. Stone has returned as superintendent. According to board remarks at the meeting, Dr. Skinner had served solely as interim superintendent, holds a contract with the district through September, and is now working under Dr. Stone rather than directly under the board. A board member said Dr. Skinner “has not been terminated” and emphasized the board did not buy out her contract.

Board comments described Dr. Skinner’s tenure as challenging and thanked her for service during a difficult period. One board member said the district hopes to work with Dr. Stone through the remainder of Dr. Skinner’s contract to align the district with state standards.

No additional details on the rescinded contract offer were provided at the meeting, including any financial terms or reasons beyond the formal motion. The board adjourned shortly after the staffing announcements.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows the following formal actions were approved: approval of agenda item 2.1 (motion and second; affirmative votes recorded), a motion to enter executive session (motion and second; affirmative votes recorded), and the motion to rescind the contract offer to Michael Skinner (moved, seconded, recorded affirmative votes). The transcript records the roll-call “Yes” votes for the rescission motion as: Michael (recorded variously as Kerr/Kern/Kirk), Evelyn (recorded variously as Tinsley/Tinson/Hensley/Henry), Miss Ramon (recorded as Ramon/Limo in other lines), Matthew Houston and David Rose.

What the board said about next steps: The board did not place further personnel actions or follow-up tasks on the public record during the meeting. Board members said they expect to work with Dr. Stone through the duration of Dr. Skinner’s contract (through September) to improve district operations.

Who spoke: Remarks and motions came from presiding board members and other trustees; specific attributions in the record are inconsistent in spelling for several trustee names. The district provided no additional written statements during the meeting in the public record included in the transcript.

Context: According to remarks at the meeting, the board voted recently to bring Dr. Stone back as superintendent prior to this special meeting. The May 27 session confirmed that administrative arrangement and addressed the related personnel status of Dr. Skinner and school-site leadership at Thunderbolt Middle School.