Washington Local to pay departed superintendent more than $200,000

12/14/2015

Washington Local Schools today released the separation agreement detailing the payments and terms of former superintendent Patrick Hickey’s resignation last week.

The board of education on Friday voted unanimously to accept Mr. Hickey’s resignation. In November, he was placed on his second leave of the school year as the board launched an investigation into still-unspecified allegations.

His financial package includes about $217,158 in salary, retirement, personal day, and vacation day payments.

Mr. Hickey remains on the district’s payroll through July 31.

He’ll receive $82,368 in salary, nearly $1,587 for personal days, and $44,034 for current and accrued vacation days, which he will continue to earn while on leave.

Attachment: Hickey’s terms of separation

Mr. Hickey also will receive $89,169 as a cash payment for retirement pay.

“He forgoes two years of his contract,” said Treasurer Jeff Fouke. “That’s what the compromise was.”

The former superintendent’s previous contract had extended through July 31, 2018.

The agreement states that the district will not complete “any pending or future evaluations of Mr. Hickey,” except as may be required by law.

No evaluations or disciplinary materials will be added to his personnel file, unless the law requires it.

Mr. Hickey cannot enter school district properties except to attend his children’s parent-teacher conferences, athletic events, or other activities in which they participate unless he obtains prior written permission from the superintendent or the board president.

The agreement was dated Friday and includes signatures by board President Thomas Ilstrup, Mr. Fouke, and Mr. Hickey, whose signature line is punctuated by a smiley face.

The document allows Mr. Hickey seven calendar days after signing to revoke the agreement.

His resignation comes amid a turbulent year for the district. A September investigation into an informal complaint against Mr. Hickey that resulted in a letter of reprimand from the board.

That investigation was spurred by a staff member who said Mr. Hickey repeatedly sent her unwanted communications after their alleged relationship ended.

In his resignation letter, Mr. Hickey said he could no longer subject loved ones to “evil and viciousness” and said his family had “suffered from horrific rumors and innuendo.”

The Blade’s public records request filed today regarding the most recent investigation is pending with the district.

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.