Ankeny's School Problems

[RollsRoyce]

Ankeny School Board blasts outgoing superintendent | Local News - KCCI Home

This is just unbelievable. Shouldn't he have to give that money back? Is there any legal action the school could take?

[CycloneErik]

It's in his contract. Both sides agreed to it. I'd say that he shouldn't have to give it back.

[rebecacy]

It's in his contract. Both sides agreed to it. I'd say that he shouldn't have to give it back.

The School Board's attorney is an idiot.

[CycloneErik]

I wouldn't argue that he needs it, just that they agreed to give it to him.

Agreed on the attorney. Wendt might as well have said "A school district with money is like a mule with a spinning wheel............."

[BirdOfWar]

No one complains when ceo's get a huge payout when they leave a company, and this isn't much different. If they weren't smart enough to put language in the contract to protect themselves against this, they can't blame anyone.

[ISUCyclones2015]

They approved of it... stop complaining...

[ItsCyence]

It's in his contract so, he get's the money.

[cyclonestate]

He deceived the Ankeny School Board and is now sneaking out of town with $174,000 of the taxpayers' money. This guy is a real model of character. The school board is not without blame, though. They got Chizzed.

Between the Wendt scandal, the Sebring scandal, and the Brandstadt scandal (where he just appointed an x-legislator as Iowa's new Drug Czar - a person with no relevant experience who coincidentally gave Brandstadt's daughter-in-law a clerkship while he was in the legislature), it's harder than ever not to be cynical.

[CycloneErik]

He deceived the Ankeny School Board and is now sneaking out of town with $174,000 of the taxpayers' money. This guy is a real model of character. The school board is not without blame, though. They got Chizzed.

Between the Wendt scandal, the Sebring scandal, and the Brandstadt scandal (where he just appointed an x-legislator as Iowa's new Drug Czar - a person with no relevant experience who coincidentally gave Brandstadt's daughter-in-law a clerkship while he was in the legislature), it's harder than ever not to be cynical.

Welcome to the game.

[06_CY]

He didn't deceive them of ****! It got approved, so why should he give it back?

[CycloneErik]

He didn't deceive them of ****! It got approved, so why should he give it back?

Since news of the next job came out the next day, I'd say that he deliberately misled them when they asked if he had another job. That would be a fair observation.

[Let's Go State]

Since news of the next job came out the next day, I'd say that he deliberately misled them when they asked if he had another job. That would be a fair observation.

I would agree. He obviously was interviewing elsewhere at the time and didn't share that information. They may have some legal options if they choose to pursue it.

[CycloneErik]

I would agree. He obviously was interviewing elsewhere at the time and didn't share that information. They may have some legal options if they choose to pursue it.

Right. They might run into trouble given that they apparently failed to ask whether he was interviewing or had a position lined up. Those would have been important considerations with the taxpayer money.

[cyclonestate]

He didn't deceive them of ****! It got approved, so why should he give it back?

He hid from the board the fact that he was about to accept another job offer, one that paid considerably more than his current salary. And he accepted the job offer literally hours after he milked Ankeny tax payers out of $174,000. Was it illegal? No. Was the school board stupid to approve the severance? Yes. Nevertheless, the guy showed his real character. What a role model for educators and students.

[CyFan61]

The school board may be able to make a case that the transitional settlement was not made in good faith and might be able to recover. Probably not though. This guy really gamed the system.