How to resolve AdBlock issue? The board voted at its Wednesday night meeting to terminate Superintendent Catherine Stone, who has been with the district since 2015.
Board President Sandy Tucker told Lake County News that the matter was taken up – as personnel items usually are – in closed session, with the decision announced afterward in open session.
Tucker said the matter had been continued from the Oct. 9 meeting.
The Wednesday night agenda included a closed session performance evaluation of Stone that preceded the open portion of the meeting.
After the board emerged with its unanimous decision to immediately dismiss her, Stone left the meeting, Tucker confirmed.
In a statement posted Thursday on the district Web site that included the names of all five board members – in addition to Tucker, Larry Allen, Misha Grothe, Thad Owens and Latrease Walker – the board reported its Wednesday night action.
“We would like to thank Ms. Stone for her service and leadership to the District, especially during the Valley Fire. We cannot comment in any further depth regarding the Board’s decision to release Ms. Stone as this is a personnel matter,” the statement read.
The board also reported that it is working with the Lake County Office of Education “to assist in hiring a qualified interim superintendent as soon as possible while we search for a permanent Superintendent replacement.”
The statement added, “We understand change can be difficult and unexpected at times but the Board is confident the District will move forward in a positive and productive direction to address the needs of our students in the best manner possible.”
Later on Thursday, the agenda for a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 21, was posted on the district Web site. The two items of business – both to be discussed in closed session – are a conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation and the interim superintendent.
The outcomes of both closed session discussions also are agendized to be reported in an open session afterward.
In the meantime, Tucker said Heather Rantala, director of business services, is overseeing district operations.
The district approved Stone’s hiring in April 2015. She succeeded longtime Superintendent Dr. Korby Olson, who retired that year.
Stone would take over in the 2015-16 school year, the start of which was interrupted by the September 2015 Valley fire, which devastated the south county and left many district students without their homes.
Her initial contract, obtained by Lake County News, ran from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2018, with a later extension. Her pay began at $132,677 for the 2015-16 school year, with allowance for annual step increases based on satisfactory job reviews.
The contract terms stipulated the requirement for midyear and final evaluations, to be conducted by Dec. 31 and May 31, respectively.
With her original contract due to end June 30, 2018, on June 13, 2018, the district board unanimously voted to extend Stone’s contract through an amendment.
At that time, Stone was acting not just as superintendent but also as special education director for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, according to district documents.
The contract amendment approved in June 2018 was to run until June 30, 2019. Beginning on July 1, 2019, Stone was to return to her job as superintendent only, with the contract then extended to June 30, 2020.
The original document allowed the board to terminate the contract at any time, with or without cause.
In the latter case, the contract requires the district to continue to pay her salary for the remainder of the term of the agreement, or for a period of 12 months, whichever period is shorter.
Tucker did not respond to a question from Lake County News about whether Stone is being paid for the remainder of the contract because she was evacuating due to the Grove fire.
Stone’s departure marks the third change in a superintendent in Lake County’s schools since the start of this year.
In January, the Lakeport Unified School District Board terminated the contract of April Leiferman. Jill Falconer has since been hired as that district’s superintendent.
Then in June, Konocti Unified Superintendent Donna Becnel retired. Her successor is Dr. Rebecca Salato.
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