Polson's superintendent signs agreement to step down

POLSON — The Polson School District and Superintendent David Whitesell have reached a tentative agreement to have Whitesell step down as superintendent pending the school board’s ratification of the agreement, which was expected to go through Wednesday night at a special board meeting.

Per terms of the agreement, Whitesell will receive $120,000 as compensation for alleged emotional distress stemming from his human rights claim against the school district’s board of trustees on the basis of discrimination, made roughly three weeks ago.

“It’s unlikely (that the board would vote not to ratify the agreement),” said Michael Dahlem, attorney for the Polson school board. “If they do, David remains superintendent and his human rights complaint will be investigated, eventually coming to a finding as to its merit, but I don’t anticipate that happening.”

In his comments on Tuesday morning, Whitesell seemed to think the same, wishing the district the best moving forward.

“I think the document speaks for itself,” Whitesell said. “I would just like to thank the great kids, parents and staff whom I had the opportunity to work. I hope the best for Polson schools.”

Another aspect of the agreement was that board trustee Robert Ricketts would withdraw his request for a Polson Police Department investigation regarding a lost document that was supposed to be entered into the minutes at the October school board meeting. Ricketts, at Monday’s Polson School Board meeting, did withdraw that investigation.

The last several months have been turbulent for both Whitesell and the school board. Tempers have flared, claims have been filed and dysfunction has grown to the point where one veteran trustee, Theresa Taylor, resigned from her position in February.

Two major bones of contention between members of the board and Whitesell, especially recently, were letter exchanges between Whitesell and board chair Caryl Cox, as well as Whitesell and the Lake County Treasurer.

Whitesell alleged that the county treasurer had illegally floated the district’s money with other districts to cover payroll last summer.

Lake County demanded an apology, to which Whitesell responded, saying he was preparing documents to present that backed up his statement.

Whitesell and Cox also had a letter exchange in which Whitesell claimed Cox had overstepped her authority as chair. Cox then sent Whitesell’s letter to board attorney Michael Dahlem to provide a legal opinion regarding Whitesell’s allegations.

While the meeting to ratify the agreement was conducted on Wednesday night, after the Leader was sent to press, recent history would suggest that Cox and the board would sign the document, ending Whitesell’s 26-month tenure as Polson’s superintendent.

Whitesell has seven days, as of March 12, to rescind his approval of the agreement if he wishes.