Six days after the departure of superintendent Tony Habra, Haines school board members refused to provide details on why he was leaving one year into his three-year contract.
Habra, who moved here from Paw Paw, Mich., was planning on leaving town Friday morning. He will receive a $65,916 settlement. He technically resigned following a fourth executive session about him on July 6.
The first three executive sessions were about his evaluation. Last week’s final one was called for “attorney-client communication.”
“There was no formal evaluation,” Habra said in an interview July 12. “They kept going into evaluation with a lot of discussion, but I resigned before that happened.”
Habra said he and his family are headed to Remus, Mich., where they have a cottage. The Beach Road house they bought in spring of 2016 is for sale.
“I’ve got to respect the district. The decision the district made is a decision I’m at peace with. It’s not what I would have done, but here it is… It’s a very political gig,” Habra said.
In a July 7 interview, school board member Sara Chapell called Habra’s departure a “bump in the road” and compared the situation to dating, where partners decide if a relationship is working.
“There was no major disaster between the board and Tony,” Chapell said. “There was no secret incident that precipitated this change. But sometimes, in an organization, it might not be the best fit.”
During a meeting over finding a replacement Wednesday, board member Sarah Swinton called the Habra matter a “mishap.”
An official statement by school board president Anne Marie Palmieri said only, “The board appreciated Tony’s professionalism and willingness to act in the best interest of the school district. We wish Tony and his family the best in his future endeavors.”
Contacted individually by the Chilkat Valley News, school board members Sarah Swinton, Lisa Schwartz, Inez Gross, Jeanne Kitayama and Brian Clay each declined any comment on Habra. Teachers’ union president Lilly Boron also refused comment.
Principal Rene Martin said she hadn’t heard from any teachers or parents on the decision,“I understand the public’s frustration, but there’s a reason we have executive sessions,” Martin said. She said she felt the board made their decision “with class, grace and dignity.”
Including interim superintendent Rich Carlson, the district has had three different superintendents in past three years.
Two longtime teachers this week voiced disappointment at the decision.
District science teacher Mark Fontenot said he was “totally shocked” and “stunned” by the decision.
“From my perspective, he was doing a great job. He seemed happy. Some people didn’t like his out-of-the-office policy. Every morning, before classes, he’d make the rounds and ask teachers and staff how they were doing.
“The first thing he did when he came here was to interview every district employee and ask them what’s not broken that I shouldn’t touch and what can we do better, instead of coming in here and saying, ‘I’m making all these changes.’”
“I’m sad. I’d like to know what went wrong. I think it’s a loss,” Fontenot said.
Patty Brown, who retired at the end of the school year, said she thought Habra was supportive of teachers’ opinions and engaged with staff.
“I wish the board could have taken time to redirect him,” Brown said. “Was everything done to put him on notice and give him a chance to improve?”
Brown said she was appreciative of how involved Habra was in the community, and she feels like the district will “lose a lot of momentum.”
Palmieri said she is working with school district attorney John Sedor on a statement about the Habra situation to be released next week. The CVN this week requested a copy of Habra’s evaluation, submitting an opinion from its attorney John McKay that evaluations of high-ranking public officials are public documents in Alaska.
Sedor responded that the district has 10 days to respond to the request.
In return for accepting the settlement, Habra agreed not to take legal action against the district for reasons related to his employment. Habra was paid $113,000 for one year of work, which board member Chapell said is the most the district has paid for the position.
There is nothing in Habra’s contract that requires compensation for a resignation, but it states he is entitled to six month’s severance pay if his employment is terminated unilaterally by the board with 30 days’ notice.
Chapell said Habra submitted his resignation letter before the fourth executive session on July 6.
In a letter to Palmieri, Habra said, “A variety of circumstances have dictated a need for me to return to Michigan for the best interest of my family.”
Habra integrated himself into the community, taking over a volunteer shift at the public radio station and a lead part in a community theater play. When he took the job, Habra had pointed to the town’s arts culture and school’s special education program as reasons for wanting to make a home here.
“This was going to be our retirement (location),” Habra said this week.
The school board discussed options for an interim superintendent Wednesday. Rich Carlson, Susan McCauley and Kevin Shipley have shown interest in the position.
Carlson served as an interim superintendent at Haines school for the 2015-2016 school year. He is retired after working as an administrator in Southeast schools for about 20 years.
McCauley worked in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District and the state Department of Education.
Palmieri said McCauley might opt to work in Haines only part-time and may require a transportation stipend.
Shipley was a superintendent in Kake four years and now lives in Juneau.
Because Carlson is retired, he would only be hired on for a year-long interim position at $103,000. The other two candidates are looking for more permanent work, but are seeking possibly negotiable salaries between $118,000 and $120,000.
“Dr. McCauley is a power player,” said principal Martin. “It would be amazing to have someone of her caliber. We would become a model school.”
When Brown asked the board what goals they would put to the interim superintendent to move the district forward, Martin said she would ask for someone to help the district come up with a solid hiring plan, revamp the strategic plan, adjust the budget correctly for downsizing and restructure the administrative team.
“We’ve got to catch up here. We’re in the position to be a leader in the state…and we need some help moving in that direction,” Martin said.
The school board is scheduled to select an interim superintendent Friday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.