Editorial: Eyebrow-raising educator payouts

Star Tribune Editorial

Taxpayers in two Twin Cities suburbs found out in the past week that they're on the hook for payouts to two departing educators -- Edina teacher Deborah York and Farmington Schools Superintendent Brad Meeks.

While it's clear the tab is substantial -- Meeks will get $88,000 in severance pay while York gets a $100,000 settlement plus severance and health benefits until she's 65 -- the lack of explanation given for their expensive leave-taking is disturbing.

Taxpayers footing the bill deserve enough details to determine if their money was spent wisely. Legislators should take note.

A relatively minor change in the state's respected Data Practices Act is needed to improve transparency when educators and other high-interest public employees leave their jobs under fire.

Too often, an employment dispute ends with a hush-hush agreement and payout.

Meeks' deal was announced March 1; he'll leave by Aug. 31, a year before his contract expires. He had just received a favorable job review from the school board late last year. Now, with three newly elected members on the Farmington board, he's on his way out.

York's strange odyssey out of Edina schools began with a November 2009 incident in a first-grade classroom at Countryside Elementary. An attorney who previously represented York said she intervened when a boy in the class pushed another student and that York sustained neck and back injuries when the boy turned on her.

York e-mailed students' parents to let them know generally what happened -- a reasonable response. She did not name the student nor indicate his gender. She didn't even say he was in her class.

What she did do is include a line that very likely rankled school administrators. York said she wanted to return to work but couldn't "until Edina Schools provide a safe working/learning environment for your children and me."

York, whose annual salary was $78,771, was put on administrative leave while school officials investigated whether her e-mail had violated data privacy laws. She was reassigned to another school after having spent much of her career at Countryside and did not return to teaching.

The details of that investigation have never been released, though Edina schools did issue a statement last summer saying the case had been resolved and that "no disciplinary action was taken against any employee."

If she didn't violate state law, why did this incident need to escalate to the point where it cost taxpayers more than $100,000?

Neither York's attorney, Phil Villaume, nor school officials would comment on the case because of the settlement, which says she resigned for medical reasons.

The lack of transparency makes hush-up payouts too convenient. Minnesota lawmakers need to remedy this.

State law already generally allows access to a complaint or investigation against a "public official" in state government who resigns under fire.

"Public official" is defined as agency or department heads or deputies, and board or commission members appointed by the governor.

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