New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a severance agreement with the district’s departing superintendent without having a finished document in writing, according to several members of the school board.
During a meeting Tuesday where the board accepted John Pallone’s resignation effective Friday, board member John DeAntonio asked when the board would get to see the agreement.
The board later voted, 7-0, to accept Pallone’s resignation and approve the severance agreement. Board member Eric Doutt was absent, and Pallone’s brother, School Director Robert Pallone, abstained.
“I don’t think anybody, including me, has seen the formal written document yet,” board President John Cope said. “I know there is one.”
Cope said board member Terry Schrock was instrumental in working on the severance agreement. Schrock did not return a call for comment.
Board member Steven Sorch said he had not read the agreement.
“I knew some of the stuff in it,” he said.
Board member Chelsea Stone said she has not seen the final, executed agreement, but, “I have zero concerns about my vote supporting it.”
“I am aware of its terms,” she said. “I am not able to discuss those particulars as this is a confidential employment matter.”
Board member Tim Beckes said that although the agreement was not finalized when the board voted, they were aware of the “basic tenets” of it.
Beckes said timing played into why the board voted before the document was finished.
“There’s a fundamental agreement on everything,” he said. “It just needs to be signed off on, ultimately. The parties have agreed to everything.”
Board member Scott Bussard could not be reached for comment.
Cope said he was not concerned about voting on the agreement without seeing it, saying he has faith in those working on it.
Cope said he would sign the agreement for the board once it is formalized and put into writing.
No details of the agreement were released. Trib Total Media immediately submitted a Right-to-Know request for it.
Pallone announced his resignation two hours ahead of Tuesday’s school board meeting. In it, Pallone said it was not his intent and he has no strong desire to leave as superintendent, but that “circumstances have made it clear that this decision is timely.”
Pallone did not explain to what circumstances he was referring, and has not responded to requests for comment or explanation.
