D-49: Superintendent on leave

In an agreement with the school board, Falcon School District 49 Superintendent Grant Schmidt is going on a "voluntary" leave while the board conducts an inquiry into questions surrounding the district's amended budget and other issues, the district announced Thursday.

"Until this matter has been concluded, District 49 will operate as usual and Assistant Superintendent Eric Paugh will serve as acting superintendent until the board of education is able to obtain all pertinent facts," the district said in a news release issued Thursday night.

Schmidt, who has been in the district only since mid-April, has been criticized over several financial issues, including his expenditures on staff retreats at The Broadmoor.

School board member Dave Stark said the agreement between Schmidt and the board was reached Tuesday night. But in a phone call to Schmidt on Thursday evening, he denied a news report from earlier in the day that he had been put on "paid administrative leave," and said he was taking a few vacation days off.

"No one has called me and put me on leave, and as far as I know, I'm not aware of any other information" he said.

The board met in executive session at a special meeting Wednesday, but board members declined to say what was discussed.

One board member, Kent Clawson, initially responded "yes" when asked whether Schmidt had been put on administrative leave, and added "at this point, I really can't talk about it."

Clawson called back within the hour to say he had misunderstood the context of the question and that Schmidt was not on leave. About 15 minutes later, the district issued its news release.

Schmidt was hired in May 2007 after a national search to replace Steve Hull, who resigned last year after getting dismal evaluation reports and a board no-confidence vote.

Hull denied doing a bad job.

Schmidt, on the other hand, has been on target to meet all of his performance measures.

The district's Web site showcases three pages of his accomplishments completed in his first 100 days.

Before coming to Falcon, Schmidt was the acting assistant superintendent of the Del Paso Heights School District in Sacramento, where he led a student achievement increase in a diverse district. Schmidt previously served schools in Longmont and Douglas County.

Falcon, which has an $80 million budget and 12,700 students, has been one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state.

The board is said to be looking at the cost of two all-day leadership and training retreats held at The Broadmoor after Schmidt arrived that cost $20,000. However, the hotel returned $2,000 of that fee.

Schmidt said he wanted to hold a meeting off-site because there are no large facilities in the Falcon area, and he wanted a professional setting that would inspire employees. "If you meet in the break room, what kind of message do you send about the value you place on your staff?" he said.

The board also is looking into whether Schmidt hired a chief operating officer without school board approval. But Schmidt said he followed procedures.

As the board conducts its inquiry, it's facing a deadline of Jan. 31 to approve its amended budget.

"It is the job of the board to ensure the fiscal responsibility of the district and we take that role very seriously," board president Anna Bartha said in the district's news release.

"This inquiry will help to ensure that the district's emphasis continues to be on our students, teachers and staff."

Schmidt said Thursday the budget is in "good shape."