Janssen Wants a Year's Salary to Resign

Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Julie Janssen offered to resign from her post Thursday, sending a written offer from her attorney to the school board. (See attachment.)

If the Pinellas County School Board accepts her offer, Janssen's resignation will be effective Sept. 2.

The letter from attorney Ronald G. Meyer asks the board to fulfill the salary requirements spelled out in the contract when there is a "release from the agreement without cause."

Janssen's salary is $200,000 per year, and her contract is due to expire in two years.

Under the terms of her contract, she could receive a year's pay, if terminated "without cause," according to a report in TBO.com.

Meyer urges the board to accept her offer to avoid the possibility of "disruptive legal proceedings." The offer is good through Tuesday, when the board is scheduled to meet with Janssen for a job review.

The letter states, "In exchange for the Superintendent's resignation, the Board will make the payments of salary and benefits as required in 'School Board Release from the Agreement Without Cause.' "

The only change Meyer requested is that the board not reduce her compension over the next two years if she earns income from getting a new job.

Language in the existing contract calls for a decrease in compensation if the superintendent finds new employment before the contract has expired, even if she no longer holds the post.

In his letter to the school board, Meyer described the offer as being in the district's "best interest."

The offer comes one week before Janssen is due to come before the Pinellas County School Board for an evaluation of her job performance. A poor job review could lead to her termination, the board said in June.

Andrea Zahn, spokeswoman for Pinellas County Schools, confirmed Thursday that the letter was received.

Meyer stated that the offer remains valid until the conclusion of the board's scheduled meeting with Janssen on Tuesday. If it is not accepted at the meeting, it will be withdrawn, he said.

On Wednesday, Janssen told reporters at a news conference she was trying to survive her conflict with the school board but had considered early retirement.