Hafer resigns after one year in District 5

By Aaron Engebretson

On May 7, after a year of conflicts between Superintendent Alan Hafer and School District 5 employees, the board of trustees announced that it had reached an agreement for a partial buyout of  Hafer’s three-year contract. The board voted 10-1 to approve the agreement and pay him $60,000, in addition to his first-year salary of $77,000.

“I’m very pleased with the board’s decision on the settlement with Dr. Hafer,” said board trustee Eve Dixon. “Though all of us would have rather spent that money on the students in our district, all of us felt we needed to terminate our relationship with Dr. Hafer. I feel the board made a responsible decision.”

Details of the agreement included Hafer’s salary, his retirement system contribution, and health insurance.

The district will pay Hafer $60,000, less state and federal withholdings. Hafer resigned and agreed that he was given due process and waived any right to a hearing. No lawsuits may be filed and neither party admits any wrongdoing.

Not all board members felt the agreement was the best course of action. Trustee Donald Murray, the lone dissenting vote, believed the board should have assessed Hafer, leading to a no-confidence vote which would have been included in Hafer’s premanant file.

“I thought that because of the circumstances the district could have settled for less than they paid,” said Murray

Settlement money will come out of the budget surplus from the ‘97-’98 school year, mainly from heating funds.

After Hafer’s resignation the school board appointed Pat Lee, special services director, as acting superintendent until June 15. The board will hire an interim superintendent for next year, while looking for a permanent superintendent.

Said Dixon: “The district can now start healing and progressing in a positive way, and the board, staff, and administration can focus on the students in our district.”

About The Arrow | Arrow front page