The USD 473 Chapman Board of Education has voted against a motion to extend the contract of Superintendent Lacee Sell.
Sell informed JC Post that the superintendent’s contract was on the Board’s agenda last Monday as an action item. The motion to extend the contract failed 2-5. She reported that Board members Bob Haynes and Judd Liebau voted in favor of the extension, while Board members John Hultgren, Joe Miller, Brian Rock, Todd Frieze, and Mitch Langvardt voted no.
The current contract runs through June 30, 2017. Sell told JC Post historically, typically, a superintendent is on a contract two years out. “Well I had two that were in favor of doing so and five that voted against. So as of right now, unfortunately, it looks like my career at 473 might be coming to an end next June ( 2017 ).
JC Post asked Sell if she would remain in the job through June 2017? “I am going to do my absolute best to do that. The Board doesn’t feel that my performance is good enough to extend my contract two years out. There are some things that I am going to have to solve on my own in regard to my own thoughts and feelings about this. I say yes to that because every decision that I have ever made has been in the best interest of our kids. My absolute intention is to continue leading every day and to make decisions upon what’s best for our kiddos.”
On the reason why the contract is not being extended Sell said it’s based upon performance. “Concerns of things that I have been asked to do in the past and have done differently, and tried to change, and maybe that wasn’t good enough. ” Sell added, “Some opinion is thrown in there. Maybe some communication about possibly over communicating….I needing for communication to be a two-way street. ”
Sell called the decision devastating in light of the accomplishments that have occurred for the staff and students in USD 473. “( USD ) 473 has come a long way in the past few years. I’m not trying to be arrogant by any means, but we have great people doing great things with great kids. I’m right there beside everyone, and I want to continue to be part.” Sell added her intention is to continue leading every day in the way she knows how.
On whether the school board might reconsider the decision and extend the contract, Sell said, “Absolutely. I pray for that and I hope for that. I hope that there’s a change of heart and we can get on the same page as far as what expectations of me need to be so I can meet whatever those are, and absolutely. I haven’t given my heart, and my time and my soul the past five years just to turn and walk away.”
While contract renewal typically occurs in January, the Board could at any time vote to extend it, if the members choose to do so.
In a prepared statement Sell also wrote, “Yes, there have been areas of conflict and differences of opinion between myself and some board members as I suspect happens from time to time in any organization. I do not believe any of that rises to the level of me not performing my job at a high level and not having my contract extended.”
There was an attempt to contact different board members on this story, but at this point there has been no public comment to JC Post on this matter. Some of those we tried to reach were unavailable.