Claremont district to discuss action of superintendent
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - The resignation of Claremont Unified School District Superintendent Terry Nichols will be on the agenda for tonight's special school board meeting.
Nichols, Claremont Unified's superintendent since July 2009, resigned last month to take a similar position with the Duarte Unified School District.
Liz Jefferson, assistant to the superintendent, said besides the vote to accept Nichols' resignation, other items on the agenda included authorizing the board to retain a professional search firm to find an interim superintendent and conduct a search.
Nichols, Claremont Unified's superintendent since July 2009, resigned last month to take a similar position with the Duarte Unified School District.
Liz Jefferson, assistant to the superintendent, said besides the vote to accept Nichols' resignation, other items on the agenda included authorizing the board to retain a professional search firm to find an interim superintendent and conduct a search.
Jefferson said it was unclear if Nichols would attend the meeting.
"I'm not sure what his plans are," Jefferson said.
A message for Nichols left Friday through the district went unreturned.
Nichols submitted a resignation letter Dec. 20.
"It is with mixed emotions that I tender this letter of resignation as Superintendent of Claremont Unified School District effective at a mutually agreed upon release date," Nichols' letter stated. The letter does not state why Nichols wanted to leave the district.
Nichols will replace Dean Conklin who on Jan. 17 will become superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District, which includes schools in Walnut and Diamond Bar.
Nichols' salary at Claremont is $196,650 annually.
Some people were upset with Nichols' speedy exit.
"If they're going to meet on Monday to accept his resignation and I presume they have the date and terms, when did they figure that out?" said Claremont resident Joe Farrell, who helped organize opposition to the district's failed bond measure.
He wanted to know if Nichols will receive any severance payment as a result of leaving the district.
"Who negotiated the deal? They're not going to tell the public. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes," he said.
Board member Steven Llanusa said Friday his agenda did not have a lot of information.
"It's just a very bare-bones agenda with bare-bones agenda material," Llanusa said. "It doesn't say when that resignation takes effect. I guess it will be discussed and voted on at the meeting."
Llanusa said Nichols told him in a phone call on Dec. 18 he was thinking of leaving. Nichols told him on Dec. 21 that he would leave.
Nichols' contract specifically states: "In all cases the Superintendent shall notify the Board should he apply for a position with another employer. In addition, the Superintendent shall notify the Board within sixty (60) days prior to leaving District employment."
Llanusa said the assumption Nichols will leave sometime this month appears to be contrary to the 60-day clause in his contract.
"The contract isn't clear. Sixty days of what? I would assume it means within 60 days or the end of the contract."
Llanusa said he would miss Nichols.
"I am sorry to see him go. I was very supportive of his superintendency," he said.
Tonight's meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center Board Room, 170 W. San Jose Ave.
"I'm not sure what his plans are," Jefferson said.
A message for Nichols left Friday through the district went unreturned.
Nichols submitted a resignation letter Dec. 20.
"It is with mixed emotions that I tender this letter of resignation as Superintendent of Claremont Unified School District effective at a mutually agreed upon release date," Nichols' letter stated. The letter does not state why Nichols wanted to leave the district.
Nichols will replace Dean Conklin who on Jan. 17 will become superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District, which includes schools in Walnut and Diamond Bar.
Nichols' salary at Claremont is $196,650 annually.
Some people were upset with Nichols' speedy exit.
"If they're going to meet on Monday to accept his resignation and I presume they have the date and terms, when did they figure that out?" said Claremont resident Joe Farrell, who helped organize opposition to the district's failed bond measure.
He wanted to know if Nichols will receive any severance payment as a result of leaving the district.
"Who negotiated the deal? They're not going to tell the public. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes," he said.
Board member Steven Llanusa said Friday his agenda did not have a lot of information.
"It's just a very bare-bones agenda with bare-bones agenda material," Llanusa said. "It doesn't say when that resignation takes effect. I guess it will be discussed and voted on at the meeting."
Llanusa said Nichols told him in a phone call on Dec. 18 he was thinking of leaving. Nichols told him on Dec. 21 that he would leave.
Nichols' contract specifically states: "In all cases the Superintendent shall notify the Board should he apply for a position with another employer. In addition, the Superintendent shall notify the Board within sixty (60) days prior to leaving District employment."
Llanusa said the assumption Nichols will leave sometime this month appears to be contrary to the 60-day clause in his contract.
"The contract isn't clear. Sixty days of what? I would assume it means within 60 days or the end of the contract."
Llanusa said he would miss Nichols.
"I am sorry to see him go. I was very supportive of his superintendency," he said.
Tonight's meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center Board Room, 170 W. San Jose Ave.
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