Contracts approved, minus longtime administrator

The USD 234 Board of Education on Monday approved several early retirement requests and other employment items, including the non-renewal of one school principal and longtime educator.

After spending a total of 80 minutes in executive session, board members returned to open meeting and approved several employment matters, including a list of district directors and administrators for the 2017-18 school year. The list of district administrators does not include Dave Elliott, current principal at Eugene Ware School.

USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said Friday Elliott will remain principal through the end of the current school year but has "not been recommended for re-hire" for the 2017-18 school year.

"That's the list of administrators I've recommended for rehire for next year," Beckham said, adding he could not provide details on the matter of Elliott's employment as it is a personnel matter. "He has not resigned, not been terminated. I've just not recommended rehire for another contract."

When reached for comment Friday, Elliott, said the board "accepted the recommendation that I not continue in this job."

Elliott said he wished to comment on a few questions he has fielded since the decision was made. Elliott said he has "not broken any laws or board policy," that he is "pretty good at his job," adding he recently received a "highly effective" rating as a school administrator. Elliott said he has also been asked "Why not just retire?"

"Well it's because I'm not eligible to retire for another two years yet," he said. "I've been blessed to work with a really great team here in the district. We've worked hard to repair some of the damage done to student achievement due to the budget ... I'm a little frustrated I can't see that through to the end, but that's neither here nor there."

Elliott said he has spent "a lot of time" recently thinking about his future but hasn't made any decisions yet. He said it would be difficult to leave the area as he has several family members here.

"I love what I do," he said. "I have a great time doing the job that I do. I don't feel like I can move from the area."

Personnel changes

The board approved early retirement requests of Joyce Cowen, middle school language arts teacher; Jane Campbell, high school instructional coach; Lisa Ward, high school business education teacher; Yvonne Holloway, Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher; and Diana Cavin, Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher; all effective at the end of t