Public Notices & Agency Updates

For Immediate Release

June 26, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
lconroy@mesd.k12.or.us
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Multnomah ESD Board accepts resignation and approves severance for Superintendent Jorgensen

The Multnomah ESD (MESD) Board voted today in a special session to accept the resignation of Superintendent Jorgensen and approve a severance agreement with her. The agreement includes payments for salary and accumulated vacation time that the agency is contractually obligated to pay. Specifically, the Superintendent’s contract provides that when the Board and Superintendent mutually agree to end the contract, payment shall be made in an amount equal to one year’s salary.

Additionally, pursuant to Oregon law, employees are entitled to payment for the value of any vacation time accumulated prior to their resignation. Superintendent Jorgensen had accumulated 24 days of vacation time prior to her resignation, and the agency is compensating her for that amount.

For Immediate Release

June 26, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
lconroy@mesd.k12.or.us
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Multnomah ESD Board approves settlement agreement with employee

The Multnomah ESD (MESD) Board voted today in a special session to approve a settlement agreement with employee Brett Bigham. In a statement read by Chair Bernie Giusto, the board explained that the
decision to approve the agreement came after lengthy deliberation in which it considered both its fiscal responsibilities and the agency’s mission.

“We could continue this course and enter into what we believe would be a successful yet protracted and arduous litigation process. Our mission, however, is not to win lawsuits. Rather, our mission is to serve students.”
As part of the agreement the agency and its insurer, PACE, will make a financial payment of $140,000 to the employee. This sum is equal to the estimated cost of litigation which would distract employees from their primary responsibility of serving students. In exchange, Mr. Bigham has released all current and future claims he has or might have against the agency.

June 26, 2015
To: MESD Community
From: MESD Board
Re: Bigham Settlement Agreement

Over the past year, the agency has been embroiled in a heavily scrutinized controversy with Mr. Bigham. This situation was deeply disturbing for many reasons, the greatest of which was the accusation of discrimination.
We abhor discrimination as antithetical to our values of diversity and creating a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment. We demonstrate this value of inclusion, in part, through our work serving the community’s most vulnerable children. We ensure that they are included and have the opportunity to learn and succeed.

The agency nominated Mr. Bigham for 2014 Teacher of the Year and supported him during his tenure in that position. We looked forward to his return to the classroom at the start of the 2014 school year and were disappointed when that did not occur. We took steps to resolve our and Mr. Bigham's concerns through conversation and correspondence, and then by requesting mediation, and then by placing him on paid administrative leave. Mr. Bigham responded to each of these steps with rebuffs, additional accusations, and attacks. Our attempts to resolve this situation culminated today when we authorized a settlement agreement with him.

Our willingness to enter into this agreement comes after lengthy deliberation. We could continue this course and enter into an ultimately successful yet protracted and arduous litigation process. Our mission, however, is not to win lawsuits. Rather, it is to serve students.

We choose today to bring closure to a situation that has distracted our employees from their primary responsibility of serving students. We will do this by entering into a settlement agreement with Mr. Bigham. The agreement includes the payment of $140, 000 to Mr. Bigham. This sum is equal to the agency’s estimated cost of litigation with Mr. Bigham. In exchange, Mr. Bigham will release any and all current and future claims against the agency. We believe that settling this matter fiscally responsible and will allow the agency to fully focus its attention and resources on serving students.

Bernie Giusto Nels Johnson
Chair Vice Chair

For Immediate Release

June 17, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
lconroy@mesd.k12.or.us
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Multnomah ESD Board member Thatcher resigns – Board to appoint successor

MESD Board member Erica Thatcher announced today that she is resigning. In a letter to the
Board Chair she explains that she “recently got engaged…and moved out of my district.” Board policy requires that Board members reside in the zone they represent.

The Board will now take steps to appoint an individual to serve the remainder of Thatcher’s term which ends June 30, 2017. It will declare the vacancy on July 1 and post an announcement seeking applicants for the position.
To be eligible for the position applicants must: reside within the Zone 2 boundary, have resided in the zone one year immediately preceding the appointment date, and not be an employee of the MESD. To confirm residency in the zone, applicants should contact the Multnomah County Elections Office at 503.988.3720. Applications will be accepted until 5pm on August 1, 2015.

Application materials will be available from the agency following the Board’s declaration of a vacancy on July 1. The agency will provide application materials after the Board’s declaration of a vacancy.

The Board will interview applicants in a public forum, during a regular or special session, on a date to be announced. The Board will then vote to appoint an individual to serve in the Zone 2 position for the remainder of the term. At the expiration of the term the voters shall elect a successor.

To: MESD Community and Partners
From: MESD Board of Directors
Re: Superintendent Announcement
Date: June 16, 2015

Multnomah ESD Board suspends Superintendent search - will re-open search in late 2015 or early 2016

Over the past four months the Multnomah Education Service District has conducted an extensive search for our next Superintendent. We can say with confidence that the process in its design and implementation strongly demonstrated our commitment to transparency and engagement with our community and stakeholders. We were fortunate to have staff and community members devoting a significant amount of time and energy to this process, and we gratefully acknowledge their contribution.

We were pleased to receive applications from a highly qualified and passionate group of individuals. Last week we announced that two candidates had been selected as finalists and they participated in an all-day schedule of interviews, tours, and a public reception. At the conclusion of the day the Board met in Executive Session to discuss next steps.

At the beginning of this search process, we believed that the wisest course of action was to bring new leadership and stability to the agency by acting promptly. It was our hope and intention that by selecting a Superintendent prior to July 1, we would lighten the load for the next Board, which includes three new members. Upon reflection, we have considered that we can best serve the agency by ensuring the success of the next Superintendent by having that individual selected by the Board with whom he or she will work.

The Board, therefore, has chosen not to select a Superintendent at this time.

Over the past several months, our Interim Superintendent, Jim Rose, has served the agency well and skillfully. We truly appreciate Mr. Rose’s willingness to serve in this capacity, and are very pleased to announce that he has agreed to continue serving in this role. Mr. Rose has restated that he does not wish to be considered for the permanent position and will serve only until the Board selects a permanent Superintendent.

We wish to thank all of the applicants for their interest, and appreciate the passion and commitment that they all ably demonstrated. We expect to re-open a transparent and engaged process late this year or early next year and we look forward to the support of our stakeholders, partners, staff, and community when we once again seek a new Superintendent of the MESD.

Bernie Giusto, Chair Nels Johnson, Vice-Chair
MESD Board of Directors MESD Board of Directors

To:      MESD Community and Partners
From: MESD Board of Directors
Re:      Superintendent Announcement
Date:    June 16, 2015
 
 
Multnomah ESD Board suspends Superintendent search - will re-open search in late 2015 or early 2016
 
Over the past four months the Multnomah Education Service District has conducted an extensive search for our next Superintendent.  We can say with confidence that the process in its design and implementation strongly demonstrated our commitment to transparency and engagement with our community and stakeholders.   We were fortunate to have staff and community members devoting a significant amount of time and energy to this process, and we gratefully acknowledge their contribution.
 
We were pleased to receive applications from a highly qualified and passionate group of individuals.  Last week we announced that two candidates had been selected as finalists and they participated in an all-day schedule of interviews, tours, and a public reception.   At the conclusion of the day the Board met in Executive Session to discuss next steps.
 
At the beginning of this search process, we believed that the wisest course of action was to bring new leadership and stability to the agency by acting promptly. It was our hope and intention that by selecting a Superintendent prior to July 1, we would lighten the load for the next Board, which includes three new members. Upon reflection, we have considered that we can best serve the agency by ensuring the success of the next Superintendent by having that individual selected by the Board with whom he or she will work. 
 
The Board, therefore, has chosen not to select a Superintendent at this time.
 
Over the past several months, our Interim Superintendent, Jim Rose, has served the agency well and skillfully.  We truly appreciate Mr. Rose’s willingness to serve in this capacity, and are very pleased to announce that he has agreed to continue serving in this role.  Mr. Rose has restated that he does not wish to be considered for the permanent position and will serve only until the Board selects a permanent Superintendent. 
 
We wish to thank all of the applicants for their interest, and appreciate the passion and commitment that they all ably demonstrated. We expect to re-open a transparent and engaged process late this year or early next year and we look forward to the support of our stakeholders, partners, staff, and community when we once again seek a new Superintendent of the MESD. 
 
 
      Bernie Giusto, Chair                                 Nels Johnson, Vice-Chair
      MESD Board of Directors                        MESD Board of Directors