 |
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Marysville school chief gets extension
Bucking the apparent sentiment of voters on Election Day, three lame-duck members of the Marysville School Board joined last night in a 5-0 decision to extend the contract of embattled Superintendent Linda Whitehead for one year to June 2006.
The vote seems likely to fan anger in a district shaken by a bitter teachers strike in September and October.
Whitehead became a focal point of the unionized teachers' fury during their 49-day walkout -- the longest teachers strike in the state. After voting in an Everett theater Oct. 20 to comply with a judge's back-to-work order, the teachers chanted, "Erase the board! Can the supe!"
Elaine Hanson, president of the union representing the 650 teachers, said then that the teachers decided to shift their focus to the Nov. 4 School Board election. The union backed three insurgents who easily defeated incumbents.
But the winning candidates won't take office until early next month. One of them, Michael Kundu, said after last night's vote, "This shows that their actions are exclusively vindictive and, basically, retribution."
Whitehead served under an annually renewable three-year contract. The board gave her a strongly favorable evaluation in March but hadn't formally decided to extend her contract.
The vote last night keeps her pay at $130,000 for the extra year, district spokeswoman Judy Parker said. There was no board discussion of the decision, as that occurred during the evaluation in the spring, Parker said.
The likely effect of the extension is to increase the cost of firing Whitehead if the new board decides on that course. Unless a dismissal is based on a contractual clause that permits termination without additional compensation -- typically for specific crimes or misdeeds -- then the board would have to buy out the balance of Whitehead's contract to let her go.
More headlines and info from Marysville.
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
 Day in Pictures A spotted eagle and more |
 David Horsey A reminder from 2004 ... |
 Photo gallery Screening of Sex Drive |
· Parents are accused of starving girl for years
· 400 county jobs could fall victim to $93 million shortfall
· No body, no weapon, but trial starts in biker's death
· Signs of times add up for homeless on the street
· UW scientists report success in herb enhanced to fight cancer
· Eyman initiative also cuts arts funding
· Redfin cuts its work force 20 percent
· Rossi asks judge to quash subpoena in lawsuit alleging campaign finance violations
· Man convicted in Ballard rapes from 12 years ago
· 'Twilight' series fans looking for teen vampires in Forks
· Oregon pair singes McCain sign
· Oregon infant recovers from rare disease
more· Microsoft exec touts technology for rural business
· No winners for Wash. Lotto, Hit 5 top prizes
· Winning lottery numbers chosen
· Rossi resists subpoena, says lawsuit political
· Boeing talks with striking machinists break down
more· Advocates say government should save wild horses
· Business interests seek employer sanction changes
· Gay support group criticizes Mormon leadership
· Desalting plant near Yuma prepares for restart
· 3 BLM workers held at gunpoint at NV pot garden
more
The Big BlogBy Monica Guzman and other P-I editors and staff
· Nader-lovers rejoice. The man is coming to Seattle
· Canadians have an election too, eh?
· Who is really to blame for our pet shelter problem
Strange BedfellowsP-I staff on Seattle politics
· Canada's election ends in Vancouver
· Gallup daily poll: Obama 51, McCain 41
· Dearth of new governor's race polls
Seattle Real Estate NewsWith the P-I's Aubrey Cohen
· Trulia embraces crisis
· Quadrant offers new incentive
· Fall not Fannie and Freddie's fault
Seattle TrafficBy Reporter Larry Lange and other P-I staff
· Weigh in on possible bus changes
· Overnight shutdowns Thursday on 520 Bridge
· New ride record claimed for water taxi
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
