Superintendent was paid to leave

Dr. Christina Melton will leave District 5 July 1 with almost a quarter of a million dollars.

That was in the District 5 Superintendent’s settlement agreement she and 6 of the 7 board members signed.

Under a Freedom of Information Act request, WLTX-TV obtained these June 14 settlement provisions:

• Dr. Melton agreed to resign – and the board would accept her resignation – effective June 30, 2021

• She would represent the district at graduation ceremonies June 19 and then take remaining earned, accumulated and unused vacation days and not return to work.

• She would receive a lump sum of $226,368 – the equivalent of a year’s total compensation – plus her earned salary and vacation time through June 30, 2021.

• She will not sue the school district for breach of contract or personal injury.

The parties agreed to keep the terms of the agreement confidential

• Dr. Melton has up to 21 days to review the agreement with an attorney, and 7 days after signing to revoke the agreement

• Neither she nor any board member may make disparaging remarks about each other or will face a $20,000 “inducement” to the non-breaching party.

• The agreement supersedes any prior written or oral agreements or understandings.

The agreement was signed and dated on June 14 by Dr. Melton and all board members except Ed White.

White and Dr. Melton both resigned after the board meeting.

White later claimed Melton was forced out but the board released a statement saying they did nothing improper or illegal.

Relinquishes award

Melton had little time to serve as SC Superintendent of the Year.

In resigning as District 5 superintendent, she had to relinqush the title a month after she was honored.

The state’s Association of School Administrators executive director, Beth Phibbs, said the superintendent of the year must be a current administrator.

Melton also returned $300 and a hand-crafted treasure box.

Lexington-Richland 5 will lose $2,000 donated to the winning superintendent’s district.

Phibbs said the runner-up will be crowned superintendent of the year and represent the state for the title of national superintendent of the year.