District administrator Rob Way has resigned his position at the Lakeland Union High School. The school board in special session Thursday accepted the resignation.
Way was not present at the meeting. His letter of resignation states that he is resigning effective Thursday, Aug. 5. His current one-year contract would have taken him through to June 30, 2022. His letter did not specify his future plans.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Lakeland Union High School District community over the past seven years,” his letter said.
“Although it is with great sadness that I leave LUHS, I am looking forward to the next chapter in my careen,” he continued. “I wish to thank our families, staff, students and community members for making my experience so special and for their persistent support of our local public schools.”
Board president Gary Smith had no further comment other than to say the board would keep the press and the public informed as they explored different options for the vacancy. After the meeting, Smith allowed that an interim position might be a possibility.
Way, who was then director of curriculum at LUHS, was named interim district administrator when part-time administrator Jim Bouché retired in early 2019. Way holds licensure for superintendent/district administrator K-12, director of instruction K-12, principal K-12 and director of pupil services K-12.
Way was then offered a two-year contract with a combined administrator/director of curriculum job description beginning in March 2019.
But last Jan. 11, the board issued Way a notice of non-renewal. After some negotiations, Way accepted a one-year contract this past March rather than the customary two-year contract.
The latest contract called for Way to spend 40 percent of his time on administrator duties with the remainder as director of curriculum. His salary was frozen at $138,768, the same as in his initial contract.
Performance evaluations
The board in offering the one-year contract laid out three expectations of Way, including that he deliver a “state of the school address” to the staff, which he did on Feb. 15.
He was also expected to submit three versions of the budget: one that includes the administration team’s “wants and needs regardless of their effect on a possible deficit.” The second version was to outline steps to balance the budget and the third was to show a surplus that “contributes back to fund balance.” The latter is used for capital expenses, but is there primarily to avoid short-term borrowing until real estate tax payments and state and federal aid are received.
The third expectation was to “develop the LUHS continuous improvement plan road map by April 1 and monthly monitor the plan.”
