Theret Resigns, Brunner Offer Rejected

Theret To Receive Salary Until Oct. 1, 2007

The McKinney School Board resolved the ongoing situation regarding the employment of former principal Linda Theret and former assistant principal Richard Brunner on Thursday.

The board met in special session and voted by a 7-0 margin to an agreement with Theret and her attorney Bob Hinton. However, the board rejected a settlement offer from assistant principal Richard Brunner.

Theret will be paid until Oct. 1, 2007, and will receive a letter of recommendation from the MISD. In exchange, Theret officially resigned effective Thursday. Her settlement package includes no benefits and will pay her 75 percent of her remaining salary, approximately $76,000.

Theret and Brunner were placed on paid administrative leave Dec. 4 after an independent investigator found that Theret and Brunner were guilty of uneven discipline regarding students and intimidation of staff.

Superintendent Tom Crowe made the decision based on a report from independent investigator, Dallas attorney Harry Jones.

Crowe made it clear he knew exactly where the blame lies for problems inside the school.

“Based upon the findings of the investigation, I have no intentions of returning Ms. Linda Theret or Mr. Richard Brunner to McKinney North High School,” Crowe said at the time of the suspensions.

“The report reveals procedural and administrative concerns that require immediate intervention. I determined that this action was in the best interest of the school district and McKinney North High School."

Bob Hinton, attorney for Theret, blasted the report immediately following its release and the discipline handed out to Theret based on the report.

“This is a whole lot to do with very little. It is a personality situation and a he said, she said,” Hinton said previously. “It has nothing to do with academics, it is just about cheerleading.”

Hinton was not available for comment Thursday evening.

Crowe, in a written response to the board’s Thursday actions, talked about the settlement with Theret.

“The reason is two fold. First, Ms. Theret is not an at-will employee. She is a contract employee of the district with a two-year contract that may be terminated only for good cause,” he said.

“Second, the cost of a termination hearing is significant. The meeting is held before a person who is assigned by the Texas Education Agency and is not an employee of the district. The district pays the entire cost of this person’s services, the employee is not responsible for any of the cost.”

Crowe added that the cost to the district in staff time and energy is also extensive as are the legal fees.

Board attorney Richard Abernathy said the reason Theret was given a letter of recommendation was due to the many positive things she has done for the district schools.

Brunner could not come to an agreement with the board. So he was told to stay home from school while he collects his salary until June. At that time, his contract expires and it will not be renewed.

An offer was tendered to Brunner and he, through his attorney, submitted a counter-offer. Crowe told the board he could not accept the counter-offer and recommended the board take the action of paying Brunner the remainder of this year’s salary. The board approved 6-0 with Lewis Isaacks abstaining.

Brunner will now have the option of either asking for a hearing before the Texas Education Association or suing the school board in civil court.

Abernathy spoke about the rejection of the counter-offer from Brunner and his attorney.

“Basically, they wanted more money than we were willing to pay,” he said.

A call to Brunner’s attorney, Daniel Ortiz, was not immediately returned.

Crowe and Assistant Superintendent for Communications Cody Cunningham both said it was time to move on and that the MISD would have no further comment on this issue.

“Everybody is ready to put this issue to rest,” Cunningham said. “We plan to return after the holiday break and start anew.”

Cunningham said a statewide search for a successor to Theret will begin in January. Harvey Oaxaca was named interim principal at North earlier this week.