Ankeny School Board Hires Law Firm to Possibly Stop Payment to Former Superintendent

The Ankeny school board has hired a law firm to see if the district can legally do anything to stop former superintendent Matthew Wendt from receiving a $175,000 transition allowance.

According to Sara Sleyster of the Des Moines Register, the board voted 6-0 following a closed session Monday night to hire Ahlers and Cooney Law Firm to represent the district in the investigation. Representatives from the law firm will present their findings to the board in a closed session scheduled for July 16, the article said.

Wendt's last day with the district was June 30.

At a special meeting May 28, . Prior to the vote, the board offered Wendt a three-year contract including a 3.25 percent salary should he stay with the district.

In a 4-3 vote also made during the special meeting, the board amended Wendt's current contract. A $176,000 transition allowance, equal to one year's pay without benefits, replaced a four-year payout with two years of benefits if Wendt elected to resign within a month.

Wendt chose to resign and take the transition allowance.

One day later, in Oswego, Ill. The District 308 school board offered him a three-year contract with a $225,000 annual salary.

Board President George Tracy, , went on record with local news outlets, asking Wendt to give the money back. However, Wendt responded by saying .

Read the full article by the Register here.