Carlson resigns as WHS principal

The Whitefish School Board Monday approved a separation agreement with high school principal Dave Carlson.

The board agreed to pay Carlson $86,263, the sum of his annual salary for the next school year, in return for his voluntary resignation.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the agreement. Trustee Shawn Watts voted against. Trustees Shawn Tucker and Heather Vrentas were both absent from the special meeting.

Superintendent Kate Orozco said she met with Carlson last week and talked about the possibility of a separation agreement.

The district's attorney drafted an agreement and Carlson signed it Friday, June 22 after it was decided that the agreement was in “everybody's best interest,” according to the district.

Carlson told the Pilot he couldn't comment on the buyout but said he will miss working with the students, parents and community members. He doesn't have plans to move from Whitefish and will take the next few months to explore his career options.

"I moved here to be a part of this community," he said.

As part of the agreement, Carlson agrees that he will not take legal action against the district for action prior to the agreement. The resignation is effective immediately.

Last month Carlson's employment with the district was in jeopardy after Orozco recommended not to renew his contract. The superintendent later reversed that recommendation and the school board voted to renew his contract. A number of students and community members rallied in support of the principal.

Carlson has served as principal at WHS since 2009.

As part of the agreement, the district will pay Carlson his annual salary. No state or federal taxes will be withheld from the amount, saving the district about 17 percent of the payment. The district also saves about $12,000 in health insurance costs.

Trustee Dave Fern said he had concerns about paying Carlson for not working.

“The whole thing bothers me,” Fern said. “The sum of money we're spending. I'm troubled with paying someone to leave and not to work. I think it's important to know how we're going to pay for this.”

The district expects to pay Carlson using savings from its snowplowing and heating funds for this year. The payment won't impact next year's budget, according to District Clerk Danelle Reisch.

Under the document, the District and Carlson agreed to “make no public statement regarding the terms or circumstances surrounding the adoption of” the agreement.