Haines Borough school board president Anne Marie Palmieri said in a statement this week that former superintendent Tony Habra’s “work performance did not sufficiently meet the depth or breadth of the District’s needs for strong leadership” and the board asked for his contract to be terminated.

Former superintendent Habra resigned this month after the school board held four executive sessions regarding his one-year evaluation. Habra and school board members have been tight-lipped about the terms of Habra’s resignation.

“After long and thoughtful discussion, the school board determined that it was in the best interests of the District and community to negotiate the dissolution of his contract. Mr. Habra agreed to resign in exchange for the settlement funding provided for in the contract. No formal evaluation was completed,” the statement said.

The statement said the school board began its annual evaluation process in June and received feedback from Habra, staff, students, community members and individual board members that contributed to the board’s decision.

Informal evaluations were held in November 2016 and February 2017. The statement also addressed the training and work the superintendent went through in his year with the school.

“In September 2016, the school board and Mr. Habra participated in a 5-hour onboarding meeting facilitated by the Association of Alaska School Boards. This meeting outlined Board-Superintendent roles and responsibilities and Board goals for the Superintendent to ensure that the school board and Superintendent were working together effectively,” the statement said.

“School Board members worked with Mr. Habra on committees about budget/finance, policy, union agreement negotiations, and major maintenance as well as monthly workshops and other meetings. Over the past year, the school board provided Mr. Habra with 12 days of training/consultation with the outgoing Superintendent, participation in a mentorship program through Alaska Council of School Administrators, and other professional development meetings and opportunities with Superintendents across the State.”

“This decision was difficult,” Palmieri said in the statement. “We appreciate the work that Mr. Habra performed over the last year. We look forward to working with Interim Superintendent Rich Carlson over the next year on budget and strategic plan issues to position the District in a positive place to transition to a permanent Superintendent.”