Vote on Higley superintendent expected Thursday

The Higley Unified School District community is expected to find out Thursday night the fate of Superintendent Joyce Lutrey. Talks have been under way in closed sessions with Lutrey, attorneys and the school board regarding a potential release of her contract.

Board to discuss potential release of superintendent

Although nothing has been made public about the negotiations, more closed-meeting talks are planned at Thursday’s school board meeting regarding her “potential separation of employment and general release,” according to the meeting’s preliminary agenda.

District spokeswoman Sara Bresnahan said Tuesday she couldn’t answer any questions on the issue.

Lutrey’s current contract ends June 2010. She is in her fifth year as superintendent in a district that has grown from one small elementary school in 1998 to nine schools and close to 10,000 students today.

The board is expected to vote on the issue Thursday, and the results of the negotiations are expected to be made public in that vote, board members said.

Board member Kim Anderson, who has been vocal about her concerns with Lutrey’s leadership and decisions, couldn’t comment on any of the negotiations. However, she did say Tuesday she thinks it would be a “really good thing for this new board to start out fresh.”

“I wish her well wherever she goes,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a good thing that there is a separation. I’m confident everything will be much clearer with the vote on Thursday. I have been assured everything will be made public.”

Anderson, Venessa Whitener and re-elected board member Denise Standage will join newly elected board members Greg Land and Paul Howell in January. Board president Ed Moore and board member Nancy Eugenis chose not to run again and will finish out their terms this month.

Although it’s not clear if Lutrey is seeking a buyout from the district, many parents have expressed concern about the board approving an excessive buyout.

“If Joyce wants to move on, that’s fine,” said Land, who has two children in the district and is a former board member. “I’m just against them being overgenerous because that would take away from students and teachers.”

However, Land said he has confidence in the current board and believes Lutrey, the attorneys and the board will work out a deal that works for everyone.

“I understand Joyce would be more comfortable negotiating with this board than the new board,” Land said. “The sooner we can get someone new in, the less we have the feeling that everything is up in the air. Let’s make this as smooth a transition as possible. We need to start building a new leadership team and start working to where our district needs to be.”

A group of parents started a petition earlier this year and collected about 500 signatures asking Lutrey to step down. About 200 parents packed a board room in May to complain about the high turnover of teachers and administrators and what they believe is poor district leadership.

Lutrey has said in past interviews she does not want to step down and plans on fulfilling her contract. Her current salary is about $127,000. She has not returned phone calls to comment.

Since the contentious May board meeting, Lutrey has held regular meetings with the parents of Change in HUSD. However, Stacey Christensen, one of the three mothers who started Change in HUSD, still wants new leadership in the district.

“I think overall if there is a buyout, and she chooses to leave, I think there will be a positive thing that will come from that,” said Christensen, who has four children in the district. “I think the morale would be different.

“I think she’s doing the best thing for the district,” she said. “It’s not the easiest thing for her.”

Geoff Johnston, who lost his recent bid to join the board but still keeps up an active district blog, said he’s hoping the board is working out a deal that’s good for Lutrey and the district.

“She knows the current board is sympathetic to her, and she’s probably not sure what the new board will hold for her,” said Johnston, who has three children in the district. “I think it shows a lot of wisdom on her part.

“I have faith that our current board really wants to do what’s best for the district,” Johnston said. “The board obviously knows there’s not money to blow.”