At their meeting on Tuesday, the Vandalia School Board approved the resignation and Separation Agreement between the board and former District Business Manager Lori Meseke. Thru a Freedom of Information Act request, WKRV-WPMB acquired the confidential Separation Agreement. In the agreement, it states that in February of 2014, Lori Meseke submitted a letter of retirement to the Vandalia School Board stating she would be retiring at the end of the 2017-2018 school year from her position as the District’s Chief School Business Official, or Business Manager. It goes on to state that Meseke and the board entered into a new employment agreement on November 21st, 2017 that was revised on February 20th, 2018. And, that a dispute arose between Meseke and the Vandalia School District regarding Meseke’s employment. And, that Meseke was placed on administrative leave on May 7th, 2018 and remains on administrative leave. And, it states in the agreement that the parties agree it is in the best interest of both Meseke and the Vandalia School District that Meseke resign from her position. The agreement goes on to state that Meseke will continue to be on administrative leave until the effective date of her resignation, which is March 31st, 2019. And, thru that time, Meseke will continue to be paid and entitled to all benefits in accordance with the terms of her employment agreement. The Vandalia School Board will also make a contribution on behalf of Meseke to the Teachers Retirement System in the amount equal to 9% of her 2018-19 salary, up to March 31st of 2019. The agreement also states that Meseke’s number of total accumulated sick leave days will remain, and that total is 380 days.
As the matter has been a personnel issue, the issue and further details have not been discussed. And, the issues that led to the dispute that led to the administrative leave have not been addressed or discussed publicly. And, the Separation Agreement addresses that further, too. In the agreement, it says that the parties agree that from the date of this agreement and going forward they shall not directly or indirectly disparage each other’s reputation, performance or service or engage in any conduct, take any actions or make any statements–oral or written—to the public, the media, the community or any third party that would be negative or disparaging. The agreement goes on to state that a breach of this provision by either party shall entitle the other party to make a claim for damages up to $75,000.