Orr out as superintendent but keeps pay; gets new job through June 2018
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Thursday, July 20, 2017, 6:45 p.m. (ADDED resignation letter and new contract, 8:30 p.m.) — Anthony Orr resigned Thursday as superintendent of the Nelson County Schools at a special-called Board of Education meeting at the district’s Central Office on Wildcat Lane.
Anthony Orr’s seat was vacant after he and the board held a closed meeting at Thursday’s special-called meeting.
His last day as superintendent is July 31, 2017.
But Orr will not be leaving the district — at least not immediately. Orr and the board entered into an agreement for him to leave his superintendent position and move into a newly created position as Director of Process, Research and Improvement.
- Director of Process, Research job description (pdf file).
Orr begins his new job on Aug. 1st. According to the agreement, Orr will hold the appointment until June 30, 2018.
The agreement continues Orr’s existing salary and benefits through June 30, 2018. The contract also states that the district will continue payments for his retirement and insurance benefits.
The contract offers Orr relocation expenses if he leaves the district prior to the end of the contract on June 30, 2018.
If he leaves the district prior to Jan. 1, 2018, he will receive up to $25,000 in relocation expenses. If he leaves between Jan. 1-Feb. 1, the benefit drops to $20,000. The benefit drops again after Feb. 1 to $15,000 and to $10,000 after March 1.
- Orr employment contract (pdf file).
Orr’s resignation letter stated that the board made it clear it wanted the district to take a different direction.
“The board has grown and changed and has a new direction in view. As is often the case, a new direction requires new leadership,” he wrote.
Speaking on behalf of the board members, board attorney Terry Geoghegan said the board appreciated Orr’s work over the past seven years to push the district forward.
“Everyone in the school district desires to put the interests of the children of our county first and continue for us to grow as a school district and a community.”
Geoghegan said the board is anxious to hire a new superintendent and expects to move quickly to do so.
NEXT UP. The school board will hold a special-called meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 22, to name an acting superintendent.
-30-
