Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Grenita Lathan announced her resignation Tuesday after more than five years on the job. The move also highlights simmering tensions on the School Board:
In a brief statement, Lathan thanked her administrative team for their support, touted accomplishments in recent years, and did not take any questions from reporters or say if she has another job. School Board member Linda Butler called Lathan’s resignation sad.
Butler then accused board members Martha Ross and Lynn Costic for putting the termination of Lathan’s contract on this week’s agenda without notifying all members. Butler implied political motivations - that Ross wants to be the next school board president and putting Lathan’s contract on the table helped toward that end.
In a joint statement, Ross and Costic say that Butler’s comments were unwarranted, and that both Butler and School Board president Debbie Wolfmeyer wanted to extend Lathan’s contract before the new school board was seated.
Lathan’s tenure was punctuated by tensions with the teacher’s union, who claimed she fostered a culture of ‘fear and intimidation.’ An investigation into test scores at Charter Oak and the subsequent removal of that principal also saw flare-ups with parents last year. The political grass-roots ‘Change 150’ group – which had a goal to remove Lathan from her post - also formed following the Charter Oak incident.
In the past, Lathan has responded to critics saying that program, budget and personnel decisions are necessary to move the district forward.
Butler was asked how the board can move forward to patch up tensions with the community:
“I think that is something that we, as board members, will have to begin our own dialogue about, and then move forward on.”
The Board meets Wednesday to do three significant things: elect a new board president, swear-in new board members Ernestine Jackson and Dan Adler, and talk about selecting an interim superintendent.
SEPARATION AGREEMENT PROPOSED
Linda Butler says that Lathan is proposing a separation agreement:
“Doctor Lathan has provided the board a separation agreement that is gracious and not harming to the district. To this she is to be commended.”
Officials say Lathan’s separation agreement is in draft form, and details were unclear.
However, language in Lathan’s original contract states the board may terminate the contract without cause by giving a 90-day notice and a payment of $100,000.
The District 150 School Board will also meet Thursday to take action on Lathan’s separation agreement.