Just hours after the Oxford School Board voted unanimously on April 22 to approve Superintendent Dr. William Skilling’s contract to serve as a consultant from June 1 until his Aug. 31 retirement, it seems the outgoing administrator had a change of heart.
Skilling is requesting the board take another vote regarding his consultant contract at the May 13 meeting. But this time he’s looking to shorten the time frame.
Instead of a retirement date of Aug. 31, he has decided to leave June 30.
Deputy Superintendent Tim Throne would still take over as superintendent beginning June 1 as originally planned.
Following the board meeting, Skilling said he went home and ‘reflected? and talked to his wife ‘about everything.?
‘I don’t know if I would be providing enough value (as a consultant) in July and August,? Skilling added. ‘Rather than have people wonder what I’m doing or what the board is doing or Tim is doing, I just thought there is no reason not to retire June 30.?
Skilling said he contacted both Board President Jim Reis and Throne to share his thoughts. Skilling told Throne he would still be available to him for those next two months if he would need to talk, but he thinks a ‘one-month overlap should be enough.?
‘I think Tim needs to be on his own, being able to build his leadership culture and his team to get things started for the school year,? Skilling noted. ‘You’ve really got to get going in June and July before people leave for vacation and I think it’s enough time (to be a consultant).?
Other than the earlier retirement date, it’s not known at this point if anything else in Skilling’s consultant contract will be changed as well.
Skilling’s approved contract was met with opposition from approximately 25 members of TEAM 20, a grass roots community group consisting of parents, members of the community and concerned citizens searching for the truth and assessing the impact to the community and students in the Oxford school district as it relates to the 20-year contract between Weiming and Oxford Schools. TEAM 20 attended the April 22 school board meeting with signs expressing their disapproval of the contract.
One sign read ‘Throne is Super. Make $killing work for pay.?
‘In regards to Skilling’s contract, I am vehemently opposed to paying for a consultant,? said Kallie Roesner-Meyers, a TEAM 20 leader. ‘The ink wasn’t even dry when you renewed the contract with Mr. Skilling and we found out that he was going to be retiring. It is he who broke the contract with this district (which) had expected him to be here for a couple more years? The fiscal year of this school (district) ends at the end of June. That’s when the students are done and that’s when the contract with him should be done. It should have been done when we found a replacement. There’s no reason to carry it on another fiscal year.?
Working as a consultant under Throne for three months until his retirement on August 31, Skilling’s annual salary would be $180,145. While it was previously reported by the Leader that this was an increase, Trustee Kim Shumaker explained at the board meeting that Skilling’s new salary was a combination of his current annual base salary of $163,769, plus his annuity ($16,376), which has been converted to salary.
‘The annuity can be converted to salary, which he chooses to do, and that’s something that is allowable in his contract,? Shumaker said. ‘He’s not getting a raise.?
Under the approved contract, Skilling would have been paid approximately $45,000 for his last three months as a consultant.
Also, as compensation, Skilling would receive a monthly automobile allowance of $500, and a mileage stipend of $250 per month as well as a life insurance policy of $250,000 during the term of the contract. As a way to save the district a few extra dollars, Skilling willingly waived receiving payment for his unused vacation and sick days, which saves a little more than $11,000.
The May 13 board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at the Board of Education office, located at 10 N. Washington Street in downtown Oxford.