The taxpayers of Upper Darby now know how much it is going to cost to part ways with Superintendent Richard Dunlap.
They're just not completely sure why.
The school board last night signed off on a deal that will award Dunlap one year's salary of $198,582, along with continuing his current health care coverage until he receives the equivalent elsewhere or becomes eligible for Medicare.
Dunlap also will be allowed to roll over 31.5 sick days into his 403B retirement plan. That comes to another $11,933.55.
The school board voted 6-2 in favor of the deal. Board members Heather Boyd and Manjit Singh voted against.
Dunlap had been on leave since last being seen in the district July 21.
It was announced a few weeks ago that Dunlap was "retiring."
Board members last night shed no new light on why the sudden switch, what happened, either on their end or Dunlap's, to change course. Dunlap had been given an extension on his contract last September, along with a raise.
School Board President Judy Gentile reminded those present at the meeting that the board never took a vote to terminate the superintendent, but admitted there were discussions between the board and Dunlap at the conclusion of last school year to allow him to retire. Gentile noted it was a personnel decision and she shed no further light on the process, other than to say that a lot of the speculation surrounding Dunlap's exit was false and that some people tried to use the process for their own purpose.
What many people in the district believe is that Dunlap fell out of favor by forcefully pushing a plan that would rebalance several schools in the district, taking into account both class size and demographics.
Dunlap has made no comments during the commotion. That likely won’t change. Failure to do so could cost him his severance package.
So why is the superintendent leaving?
So why is the superintendent leaving?
Is he really retiring?
Upper Darby is a massive school district. I specifically remember a former superintendent describing the sprawling high school, when it is packed during any school day, being something akin to one of the biggest towns in the county.
It is hugely diverse, with as many as 75 languages spoken in districts every day. One of the things Dunlap was looking to do was making sure the district's schools fully projected that diversity in a way that would be fair to all involved.
Not everyone was a big fan of the plan.
Now Dunlap will take his year's salary and head off into "retirement."
In the meantime, residents - you know, those pesky people who pay the bills - are left to wonder why?
Comments