Teachers Group Incensed By Superintendent's $1M Payout
Wayne Township Teacher's Association Blasts District
Posted: 02/07/2011
Last Updated:
838 days ago
The Wayne Township Classroom Teachers Association said it is angry and disappointed in former superintendent Terry Thompsons $1 million retirement payout.WTCTA represents Wayne Township teachers in negotiations instead of the Indiana State Teacher's Association.In a Q&A on its web site, the association takes aim at business manager Dennis Tackett, calling it a failure to not make himself and the school board aware of the financial details in Thompsons contract.WTCTA also blamed the school district's attorney, Jon Bailey, 6News' Kara Kenney reported."Extreme disappointment was expressed in the school boards attorney and his 'limited to the legal aspects' of the contract without providing warning to the to the school board of the financial commitment those 'legal aspects' would require," read the WTCTA statement, which also indicated that teachers sacrificed as Thompson collected his severance and money for retirement."CTA leaders are at least as angry and upset as other Wayne Township teachers about the amount of money Dr. Thompson's contract provides him after being told no money was available for salary increases, increased help with health insurance premium costs, fewer teachers (by attrition), and continuing student programs that have been cut," read the statement.Teachers also expressed concern about Thompsons $35,000 retirement incentive, which he received along with more than 60 other employees, saying the initial agreement excluded the superintendent."(The agreement) was changed just prior to presentation to the Board of Education with that exception being deleted without CTA's knowledge," the WTCTA statement read.The district said in a statement released on Monday that there were several drafts of the incentive and that the one sent to the teacher's group included teachers but not administrators."The agreement went through several revisions and all eligible administrators were included prior to board approval," read part of a statement from Mary McDermott-Lang, director of communications for the school district.Thompson was expected to resign his "superintendent emeritus" position last week, but no agreement had been reached as of Monday.If Thompson does give up the consulting position, it could potentially save taxpayers $200,000.
