Fired Schools Chief Gets $200,000 in Severance

Pinellas County Superintendent Julie Janssen was fired Tuesday by a unanimous vote of the School Board. But Janssen will leave Sept. 2 with $200,000 in severance pay.

Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent Jim Madden already informed the board he has no interest in temporarily filling her job until a permanent replacement is hired.

The board is eyeing John Stewart for the interim post. He is a former Polk County superintendent and former deputy superintendent of Pinellas County Schools. If Stewart agrees, they will vote him in on Aug. 30.

The board predicted it will take three months or more to hire a superintendent for Pinellas County, the state's seventh largest school district.

Tuesday morning, the Pinellas County School Board voted 7-0 to terminate Julie Janssen during a special meeting.

Some board members were so displeased with Janssen's performance that they wanted her to pack her things and leave immediately. Robin Wikle, Terry Krassner and Janet Clark voted in the minority against extending Janssen's termination date to Sept. 2. 

Janssen's tenure was marked by a 20-point drop in the district's academic ranking in Florida.

Krassner seemed to place the blame for the drop – from 29th to 49th place – on the schools chief. “I don’t question the heart and intentions,” Krassner said, “but I do question her results for our students and staff."

Lew Williams seemed to agree. “I think she gave it her best; I think her heart was there,” Williams said. “There were just too many distractions.”

After the meeting, Janssen said the firing did not come as a surprise. Last week she had tendered a resignation letter to the board, offering to quit if she were paid a year's salary, or $200,000, per the terms of her contract.

“I knew what was coming, and I am pleased that they trusted me enough to give me an extra couple of weeks,” she said. "I am not here to do harm to this district; my heart has always been here for this work and for the kids.”

By terminating the superintendent without cause, the board agreed to pay Janssen one year’s salary and benefits, which amounts to more than $200,000. If Janssen gets a job within the year, the severance pay will end.

When asked about any plans she might have, Janssen was reflective. "I think I’d like to take a vacation with my family. We haven’t done that in a long time.”