A former Oregon superintendent will receive more than $100,000 from the Adrian School District after he was terminated over a mask mandate.
The payout is part of a settlement agreement that Kevin Purnell, the former superintendent, signed when he was let go last week.
According to Oregon Live, the agreement represents 10 months remaining on Purnell’s contract, which is set to end next week.
Purnell has agreed not to sue the district.
The conflict between the former superintendent and the board came to ahead over Purnell’s handling of the state mandate for masks in schools.
“The vast majority of us in small schools are saying, ‘If I follow the governor’s order, I run the risk of losing my job. If I do what the board wants, I run the risk of losing my license,’” according to Purnell as reported by the association.
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it is looking into the school district over complaints that the mask mandate wasn’t being enforced.
Purnell was fired on August 30, when the school board held a special meeting. Purnell served as the superintendent for three years and gave a tearful speech regarding his termination.
Purnell was the superintendent under a contract that was set to expire in June. The board had decided earlier, without explanation, not to renew.
His contract provided that he would get six months’ severance pay if he didn’t contest a dismissal before his contract was up.
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