POLSON – The Polson school board has ratified an agreement between the district and outgoing Superintendent David Whitesell that pays him $120,000 for emotional distress and ends his discrimination claim against the school board.
School curriculum director Bill Appleton will serve as interim superintendent while the school searches for a new administrator, the Lake County Leader reported.
The board ratified the agreement with Whitesell on Wednesday night in an effort to end ongoing difficulties. Whitesell had signed the agreement on Monday.
The last several months have been turbulent for Whitesell and the board.
Whitesell filed a human rights claim against the school district’s board of trustees about three weeks ago alleging one board member made remarks of a racial nature about Whitesell. He is Native American.
Lake County commissioners sought an apology last year after Whitesell accused the county treasurer of illegally handling school district funds. This year, he wrote a letter to the board’s chairwoman alleging she overstepped her authority and violated open meeting laws.
The agreement also called for a trustee to withdraw his request for a police investigation into lost documents that the trustee alleged Whitesell destroyed.
Whitesell will be paid through March 20 and receive pay for unused vacation and sick leave.
Whitesell thanked the students, parents and staff members with whom he worked.
“I hope the best for Polson schools,” he said.