During a meeting on Wednesday night, the Seattle School Board unanimously voted to terminate the employment of Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson. This decision comes in the wake of a financial scandal that has caused significant damage to the district and has left the board scrambling for a solution. To fill the position temporarily, the board has appointed Susan Enfield, the district’s chief academic officer. However, Betty Patu, the only member who voted against the termination, expressed her desire for a candidate who was not associated with Goodloe-Johnson’s staff. One of the board members, Peter Maier, issued an apology to students, educators, and the public for the scandal involving the district’s small-business contracting program.
Maier stated, "This situation must never be allowed to happen again. The best way to restore public confidence in Seattle Public Schools is to bring in a new top management team. I am aware that this will be challenging, as the public rightfully expects the district to regain their trust. Moreover, we need to change the culture of Seattle Public Schools to ensure that cronyism is no longer tolerated." Following her appointment, Enfield addressed the audience and emphasized that her immediate priority was to rebuild trust. She said, "Now is the time to show our students how to engage in responsible and respectful problem-solving together, even when it’s difficult."
Enfield’s appointment is effective immediately, and she will receive a base salary of $225,000. Goodloe-Johnson, who was not present at the meeting due to taking care of her sick mother, sent an email to district employees expressing her appreciation for their support but made no mention of the scandal or her termination. Goodloe-Johnson, who served as superintendent for 3 1/2 years, will receive a severance package totaling $264,000, which is equivalent to one year’s salary, as well as approximately $9,800 in benefits. Her contract with the district was supposed to run until 2013.
Additionally, the board decided to dismiss Don Kennedy, Goodloe-Johnson’s designated chief financial and operations officer. Kennedy will be paid a salary of $87,500, which is half of his annual base pay, along with around $4,900 in benefits. During the meeting, hundreds of individuals attended and took the opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction with the district’s mishandling of public funds, as well as their loss of trust in the district. Many speakers criticized both Goodloe-Johnson and the board, arguing that they were equally responsible for the superintendent’s actions.
In an attempt to determine if there were grounds to fire Goodloe-Johnson and Kennedy without severance pay, the board sought legal advice. However, both internal and external attorneys concluded that it would be challenging to prove cause for termination. Although neither Goodloe-Johnson nor Kennedy have been directly implicated in a recent state Auditor’s Office report that outlined fraudulent activities related to the district’s small-business contracting program, an external attorney hired to investigate management’s actions concluded that both individuals possessed enough knowledge about the problems to warrant some level of action.
The audit revealed that $1.8 million in contracts awarded through the program either did not provide any public benefit or were questionable. Silas W. Potter Jr., a former mid-level manager who played a central role in the scandal, denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be a scapegoat. He insisted that the alleged misappropriation of district funds, which has prompted a criminal investigation, was the result of actions taken by two individuals who held positions above him. Mayor Mike McGinn, who spoke prior to the board vote, expressed his concern over the fiscal and management issues plaguing the school district and emphasized the need for a cultural change. He also offered the city’s assistance in the form of additional fiscal or management experts if needed.
McGinn further discussed the proposed $231 million Families and Education Levy, which will be on the November ballot pending City Council approval. He stressed the importance of rebuilding trust, stating, "If we fail to restore trust, our youth will be the ones to suffer."
"If I oppose this action, there may be individuals who will claim it is motivated by racial bias. However, I assure you that this is not the case. Conversely, if I support the action, I could be accused of turning a blind eye to the considerable advancements achieved under the leadership of this superintendent."