Principal who left six weeks into school year getting full year's pay

Don Behm:

The principal of Cedar Grove-Belgium High School left his job just six weeks after the start of this school year -- and shortly after board members discussed not renewing his contract -- but will be paid his full year's salary of $91,290.

Larry Theiss resigned as principal effective at the end of his contract -- June 30, 2014 -- but has not actually worked since mid-October. Theiss informed the school board in a letter dated Oct. 15 that he was taking an immediate leave of absence from the job so he could take classes toward a superintendent's license, Superintendent Steve Shaw said.

School Board President Chad Hoopman said Wednesday that Theiss' departure was "a forced resignation."

Earlier in October, the board discussed not renewing Theiss' contract for the 2014-'15, so Shaw sat down with the principal to alert him to the possible change, Hoopman said.

After meeting with Shaw, Theiss resigned.

There was no provision in Theiss' contract that required payout of the full year's salary, according to Shaw. However, the school board decided to accept the resignation and pay Theiss through his absence to create "an opportunity for both sides to move forward," Shaw said.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at November 7, 2013 12:56 AM
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