School district ratifies agreement, begins search for new superintendent

POLSON — The Polson Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify an agreement between the district and Superintendent David Whitesell that terminated Whitesell’s 26-month tenure as superintendent and resolved several ongoing litigious matters, Wednesday night.

Curriculum Director Bill Appleton will serve as the district’s interim superintendent as the board seeks a replacement administrator, a process that will begin immediately and consider applicants from both inside and outside the area.

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.

In his comments on Tuesday morning, Whitesell wished the district the best moving forward.

“I would just like to thank the great kids, parents and staff whom I had the opportunity to work,” he said. “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.

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