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Douglas Unified board accepts teacher resignation; approves superintendent retirement and ESI contract
Summary
The Douglas Unified District board accepted a teacher's resignation with no liquidated damages and non-rehireable status, and approved Superintendent Anna C. Samaniego's retirement effective June 30, 2026, while agreeing to offer her an ESI contract for the 2026-27 school year; both actions passed by unanimous roll-call votes.
The Douglas Unified District governing board on an open meeting accepted the resignation of Mary Lou Martinez Herrera, a certified teacher at Stevenson Joel Carlson School, and approved Superintendent Anna C. Samaniego's retirement request, agreeing to offer Samaniego an ESI contract for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The board returned from an executive session called under Arizona Revised Statutes 38-431.03(A)(1) and moved to consider item 3A, the release of Martinez Herrera's 2024-25 contract. Superintendent Anna C. Samaniego recommended acceptance of the resignation "and no charge of liquidated damages, but a non rehireable status," according to the record. Board member Mr. Smith moved to accept the superintendent's recommendation; the motion was seconded by Miss Salchow. A roll-call vote recorded the five members as voting yes, and the motion carried.
Shortly after, under item 3B the board considered Samaniego's retirement request. The record states Samaniego asked that the board allow her to take the third year of a multi-year contract and that the district honor that obligation. The board accepted her retirement effective June 30, 2026, and agreed to place her on an ESI contract for the 2026-27 fiscal year; the board noted that the specific parameters of the ESI contract would be addressed at a later time. The motion to approve the superintendent's retirement request was seconded by Miss Salchow and passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Votes at a glance: 1) Acceptance of resignation of Mary Lou Martinez Herrera — motion to accept superintendent recommendation (no liquidated damages; non-rehireable): moved by Mr. Smith; seconded by Miss Salchow; vote: Smith — yes; Salchow — yes; Lindeman — yes; Ramos — yes; Burry — yes; outcome: approved. 2) Approval of Superintendent Anna C. Samaniego's retirement and offer of an ESI contract for 2026-27 — mover not specified in the record; seconded by Miss Salchow; vote: Smith — yes; Salchow — yes; Lindeman — yes; Ramos — yes; Burry — yes; outcome: approved.
The board recorded that the details and circumstances of the ESI contract would be discussed and finalized at a later date. No liquidated damages will be assessed against Martinez Herrera, and the board placed her on non-rehireable status as part of the acceptance of her resignation. The meeting adjourned after the votes.
