School’s superintendent, charter authority, part ways
Reluctant as many members were, the Cape Coral Charter School Authority governing board voted at Tuesday’s emergency meeting to terminate Superintendent Nelson Stephenson “without cause” effective immediately.
The parting of the ways “without cause” means Stephenson will receive four month’s severance pay.
Stephenson had informed the board last week that he would not sign a new two-year contract that had been negotiated over the last several months, approved and accepted by both the board and Stephenson.
“It’s said it has come to this,” said board member Russell Winstead, who voted with the majority. “We are losing a great superintendent.”
Asked if he anticipated the board’s action, Stephenson said, “In reality, I support the board. They voted 6-0 on the new contract. No. I did not want it to end this way. Sometimes a lightning rod has to step out of the way. I hope that the players still involved continue giving their support to Jackie Collins.”
Collins, principal at Christa McAuliffe Charter Elementary, was appointed by the board to serve as the acting interim superintendent.
Stephenson became a lightning rod when he came under fire from some City Council members that arguably started when Mayor Marni Sawicki asked Stephenson to reconsider rehiring a teacher whose contract was not renewed. That led to a public verbal spat in the media and social website posts as well as at an open council meeting.
Then there was the city’s internal audit of the school system that uncovered a number of issues regarding financial practices that auditors believed would leave the system financially unsustainable. It was Stephenson who ordered the audit because one had not been done before in the system’s 12-year history.
“I was the first to call for the audit, so I did not stick my head in the sand about it,” said Stephenson. “I was very disheartened by the comments made by council members last night (Monday) and on that I guess we will agree to disagree. The audit was released months ago and we already had the discussion at the joint meeting with council. There was no reason for last night’s discussion.”
Tuesday’s emergency meeting started out with Winstead asking Nelson point-plank why he was leaving after negotiating a new contract agreement.
“I have been blessed to work in Cape Coral and the constant beating of the drums with the city and last night’s meeting,” Stephenson said. “If you put the public in my shoes and ask them if they would continue. I have no other job. I am not abandoning the schools. I’m leaving so the schools can go forward. It’s in the best interest of the system and best for me personally. Last night was very disturbing to me.”
Stephenson even suggested the city go back to see why the system was created and stop treating the four-school city system like is still a 100-student start-up.
“There is the city way and there’s our way,” he said. “I know we can continue moving forward. The state attorney comment last night, who would anyone stay after that? I would not leave if I were not confident the schools can continue improving. There are just too many barriers for me to continue to be the leader. My only guilt is we’ve done amazing things. I’m just stepping off the battlefield.”
One city council member alluded Monday to the possibility of a criminal investigation.
Board vice chair Robert Zivkovic contended that outside pressures and harassment did indeed cost the charter schools two good leaders. The other is Oasis High principal Shannon Treece, who has accepted a leadership position outside the system with Babcock’s Ranch’s fledgling charter system.
“I understand why they are leaving,” Zivkovic said. “It wears on the soul. I hope the political environment gets better. We are in a position to continue to succeed with the charter schools gaining favorability on the national, state and local levels. By no means are we a sinking ship. I just hope people stop using accusations and innuendo because it’s hurting our sister.”
Board member Odette Boyer said she saw no reason to release Stephenson before the June 30 expiration of his current contract.
Board member Sam Fisher accepted blame for the school system getting to this position.
“No one is more disappointed than me,” he said. “With Stephenson leaving I feel like I failed the system, this board failed the system. We are losing not one but two leaders in a matter of weeks. I think we need to look in the mirror and decide if we have done all we can do to make the schools better.”
Zivkovic brought up the idea of putting Stephenson on administrative leave for the duration of his contract, through which he would be paid. One idea was to keep Stephenson available for consultation with an interim superintendent.
After much discussion, Zivkovic moved that Stephenson be terminated immediately without cause, a motion that only Fisher voted against.
Stephenson appreciated the board’s offer to give him a letter of recommendation showing a mutual parting of the ways because Stephenson will have to check the box on future applications asking if he was terminated in the past.
Zivcovic then made a motion to appoint Collins as the acting interim superintendent, which was approved unanimously. Zivkovic was selected to work with city staff in working out the details for Collins’ change of status.
Collins has been with the charter schools since Christa McAuliffe was founded, first as a gifted student teacher and became principal in 2010.
“I want to help the system move forward with its relationship with the city and keep things running smoothly until the new superintendent is in place.”
Collins said she did not want the superintendent’s job permanently.
The board agreed to advertise the open position locally through the city’s Human Resources Department. Members expressed they are in no hurry to hire a replacement by July 1, either, opting to continue under an interim’s direction until “the right qualified person” can be hired.
The board’s next meeting is April 21 at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers, followed by a budget workshop session.