Supporters of Stillwater Superintendent Denise Pontrelli passionately argued on her behalf Thursday night, saying that her leadership is needed during this time of pandemic and racial unrest.
But the Stillwater Area School Board voted 5-2 to cut ties with Pontrelli; her last day will be July 1.
Under the terms of the separation agreement, Pontrelli will receive her 2020-2021 salary of $195,826 and $29,165 of accrued unused vacation leave. She also is receiving $64,312 for release of any legal claims she may have against the school district. The district also will contribute $5,500 to her 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plan and $4,500 to her health-reimbursement account, and she will be allowed to stay on the district’s health and dental plan at the school district’s expense.
Board member Shelley Pearson said buying out Pontrelli’s contract was the right call despite the “difficulty of separation during a pandemic and the need for greater equity work in our schools.”
“I am 100 percent certain that we cannot keep going like this,” said Pearson, who announced her resignation at the end of the meeting. “There have been many opportunities to change course, but it has continued to get worse instead of better. … Our kids are hurting, and our community is hurting, and we just can’t continue in this way. It’s not healthy for any of us. We all need to be in a place that is healthy for all of us.”
The vote came after an outpouring of public support this week for Pontrelli, who has led the nearly 8,600-student district since 2015. As of Thursday, more than 2,800 people had signed a petition on her behalf. In addition, more than 80 percent of the 583 teachers in the district signed a letter of support, and a unanimous letter of support was sent to the board from the district’s principals.
Board member Mark Burns said buying out Pontrelli’s contract was “fiscally irresponsible,” especially at a time when the board is facing “financial constraints on hiring due to the uncertainties of COVID-19.”
He also said the decision was “operationally irresponsible” given that Robert McDowell, who had served as assistant superintendent, recently left the district to be the new superintendent in Hastings. In addition, the district’s finance director, Kristen Hoheisel, last month sued the school district and the chairwoman of the school board for allegedly violating the state’s open-meeting laws, the whistleblower statute and the data practices act; Hoheisel has been on administrative leave since March 30.
“Planning for the upcoming school year may be the most challenging in memory,” Burns said. “We as a district need every human resource available to effectively plan and execute the delivery of education to our students. … Finally, I oppose it simply because it hurts our students, and ultimately, that’s what our decisions have to be based upon: Does it help our students? I don’t believe it does. I believe it hurts our students.”
Alumni and students of color at Stillwater Area High School on Tuesday wrote an open letter to the school board, calling on them to keep Pontrelli in her role as superintendent. They said removing her would move the district in the “wrong direction.”
Fifteen people were allowed to speak at the meeting, which was held over Zoom and streamed live on YouTube. Attorney Jeff Anderson urged the board to stick with Pontrelli, whom he said “has given voice to communities of color.”
“As a civil rights lawyer of 45 years, I’m acutely aware of the issues presented to all of us in this critical time and in times past,” said Anderson, who lives in Stillwater. “This is a time for this board and this community to heal divisions and include and support those who speak in support of communities of color. The superintendent has done that.”
Josiah Hill, an English teacher at Stillwater Area High School and head of the Stillwater teachers’ union, said the support Pontrelli had from the district’s teachers was “far beyond rare, it’s unheard of.”
“We are facing two pandemics together in real time: systematic racism and COVID-19,” he said. “This is the greatest challenge we have faced, and I am deeply troubled that the board is looking to separate from our superintendent during these turbulent times. … A clear change in leadership in the midst of these two monumental challenges will harm our students, our district and our community for years too high. The stakes are far too high.”
But others said separating from Pontrelli was necessary.
“The divide in our community was created under the current administration’s watch,” said Kristie Mack. “Our district must have administration in place that understands and values accountability. You owe it to our kids, our staff and our community. A reset like this will give some much needed space for all parties to pause and start to visualize what it is they really want for our district.”
Pontrelli has been the focus of the ire of many parents and community leaders since the school board voted 5-2 in March 2016 to close three elementary schools — Withrow and Marine in the northern, more rural part of the district, along with Oak Park Elementary in Stillwater. The idea was to consolidate students into fewer buildings and use limited resources more efficiently and equitably.
Parents of students in schools marked for closure objected and unsuccessfully sued the district to keep them open; new board members were elected.
“This district needs accountability,” said Julie Gruendemann, of Stillwater, who urged the board to approve the separation agreement. “This district needs accountability. It’s time to cut ties and try and find someone who can demonstrate positive leadership and not manipulations and machinations.”
Said Melanie Zeller of Stillwater: “She has financially, morally and emotionally bankrupt this school district. She has caused a divide between families, friends and neighbors that may never heal. If we are to try to heal this district, we must get rid of her now.”
Pontrelli did not comment on the separation agreement other than to take issue with Board Chairwoman Sarah Stivland’s use of the word “amicable” to describe negotiations.
The board and Pontrelli did agree on a joint statement that Stivland read at the meeting:
“Superintendent Pontrelli wishes to extend her gratitude to the students, staff and community for their partnership to create improved learning systems for all. The district expresses its gratitude to her and her leadership over the last five years.”
