On April 9, 2012, the ISD 166 school board met to consider one agenda item, the approval of a resignation agreement between ISD 166 and faculty member Dan Viren, effective June 30, 2012.
A resignation agreement was distributed and reviewed. School Board Member Jeanne Anderson said the school’s attorney and the Minnesota Education Association attorney had worked together on the agreement. The agreement recital stated that the school district “has concerns about his [Viren’s] ongoing suitability for a teaching position.”
The agreement also states that the teacher had instituted a grievance and “denies any allegations of wrongdoing.”
And the agreement recital states, “Teacher and school district have determined that it is in their respective best interests to settle and resolve the outstanding grievance and to conclude teacher’s employment relationship with the school district, thereby avoiding the expense and uncertainty of contractual proceedings.”
Superintendent Beth Schwarz said, “Our attorney, John Colosimo, said this would be the best resolution for our school and our students.”
Under the resignation agreement, Viren will remain on approved medical leave until the resignation date of June 30, using his accumulated sick days. He will receive payment of $31,062 and health insurance premiums will be paid until August 31, 2012.
There was little discussion about the four-page agreement, although School Board Member Deb White said she felt that the agreement did not send a “strong enough message.”
White said, “We are charged with providing a good, safe environment for our students.”
Superintendent Schwarz said, “We’ve come to an impasse on the interpretation of things and the lawyers have agreed this is the best way to resolve this.”
School Board Member Terry Collins said when the school district gives a teacher a tenure appointment, that individual has due process rights. He said the proper procedure has been followed. “We’re choosing to do this for three reasons—cost, time and morale. It’s advantageous to the school district. And it reminds us to be very thoughtful in granting tenure and due process rights.”
School Board Member Leonard Sobanja said he was not aware of the circumstances that brought the school district to this point and asked for information but was told that personnel issues could not be discussed in an open meeting.
A vote was taken and the agreement and release of claims was approved with Board Members Terry Collins, Mary Sanders, Jeanne Anderson and Leonard Sobanja voting yes. Board Member Deb White voted no.
ISD 166 administrators would not comment on the circumstances that led to Viren’s resignation, however, Cook County court documents show that in 2007 Viren was charged with disorderly conduct and assault in the 5th degree after allegedly pushing a 12-year-old student and being verbally abusive. Those charges were dismissed by then- City Attorney Don Davison on the condition that Viren complete an anger management program.
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