Lake Havasu Unified Board announces immediate return of Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Stone

The Lake Havasu Unified School District Governing Board announced May 21 that Dr. Rebecca Stone will return as superintendent effective immediately, the board said after an executive session.

Board leaders also voted to direct the board attorney to take the actions discussed in executive session, and clarified earlier questions about a principal’s resignation.

The announcement followed a closed executive session. After the board reconvened, the presiding officer said, “I am very thrilled to announce to everyone here today into our community that Doctor Rebecca Stone will be returning as the superintendent of the Lake Havasu Unified School District, effective immediately. At this time she will be virtual, until further notice.” The board then voted to direct the attorney to take the action discussed in executive session; the motion passed on a voice vote recorded as unanimous.

Earlier in the meeting the presiding officer addressed public questions that members had expected the meeting to concern the status of Principal Jenny Sautner. The presiding officer said attorneys for the board and for Sautner had determined that because Sautner’s name had not been listed on an earlier resignation notice, “her resignation was not accepted,” and that her employment contract approved earlier in the school year remains active for the coming school year. The presiding officer added that further contractual discussions would occur with legal counsel and that, because attorneys represent both sides, the board could not have direct conversations with Sautner about those matters.

The motion to direct the board attorney did not include further public detail about the specific legal steps the attorney is to take; the motion’s text as moved and seconded was recorded in the meeting minutes. The board’s announcement said Dr. Stone will serve virtually until further notice.

No additional employment or contract paperwork was read into the record at the meeting; board members made and recorded a motion directing legal follow-up and approved it by voice vote.