Gazette-Times

LEBANON - Less than 24 hours after Superintendent Jim Robinson resigned from the Lebanon Community School District, two members of the school board survived a recall effort.

With an insufficient number of outstanding ballots to change the outcome, the Linn County elections office declared that boy Rick Alexander and Josh Wineteer would remain on the board.

The result of the recall effort and Robinson's resignation could bring to a close a contentious stretch in the district's history.

Robinson's resignation took effect Monday night when a buyout deal was reached and approved by the school board on a 4-1 vote. Assistant Superintendent Steve Kelley will be in charge until an interim superintendent is named.

Through their attorneys, Robinson, 60, and the Lebanon School Board agreed to a settlement package of approximately $400,000. The package includes Robinson's salary and benefits through the remainder of his contract - June 30, 2010 - and health insurance through his 65th birthday in March 2013. His current salary is $123,443.

Chris Fisher voted no on the agreement, saying he did not want to give the district "a blank check" to pay off one superintendent while hiring another.

"I don't really believe in giving somebody money for not really performing. That's not using taxpayers' money in a proper way," he said, adding later: "It's easy for people to say, 'Do whatever it takes to get rid of the superintendent.' Look at the cost."

But other board members said they believed the agreement was best way to avoid future lawsuits and end some of the acrimony that has marked recent years.

"I want to come to board meetings and talk about the kids," Debi Shimmin said, her voice breaking. "I'm exhausted talking about the same three or four issues. This district has to heal. It's not going to heal under the current situation."

Under the terms of the settlement, the district agrees to remove Robinson's last evaluation, which graded him poorly, from his personnel file. In return, Robinson has agreed to drop his recent tort claim against Wineteer and Alexander.

The district also will pay Robinson's attorney fees for the settlement negotiation, which amount to $6,000.