District 191 responds to Tania Chance story
Editor’s note: Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 released this statement after Thisweek Newspapers posted a story March 2 about the separation agreement between the district and former administrator Tania Chance.
Thisweek Newspapers published a story on March 2 in which the reporter states that he has received an unredacted copy of the separation agreement with Tania Chance, the former executive director of human resources for Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191.
The District did not release any data regarding the separation agreement to the newspaper. The newspaper reporter said the documents were delivered by an unknown source.
The District’s legal counsel put the newspaper reporter on notice that if he has what he believes is an unredacted version of the separation agreement, then he is in possession of data that is classified as private data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, and is the subject of a pending opinion from the Minnesota Department of Administration, Information Policy Analysis Division (IPAD). The District asked the reporter not to release the information until after a determination from IPAD.
The District cannot confirm or deny that the newspaper has printed redacted information from the separation agreement, because to do so would release private data.
It is important to make some general comments about settlement agreements:
Complaints can be made to state agencies, and they must be accepted for processing regardless of whether or not there is any merit to the allegations. If fact, most complaints made to agencies are dismissed.
But to get a dismissal, the employer must spend significant money and time — even for claims that have no merit whatsoever. When employers are faced with potential litigation, they have to consider the cost of defense versus settlement — and that is especially true for a public school district. To do otherwise would be acting irresponsibly.
The ONLY reason the District redacted any language from the separation agreement was to protect the District from potential liability for the release of private data. If the District had not redacted the language and a determination was made by IPAD or a court that the language is classified as private data, the potential cost to the District would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The District cannot now release an unredacted separation agreement without facing that kind of liability. IPAD will provide an opinion on or before April 17.
I would rather see money spent defending a lawsuit or complaint than paid to an undeserving complainant. If the lawsuit is lost, so be it. But to hand someone $250,000 because they dared to make a complaint is just asking for more frivolous accusations.
Sounds to me like hush money. Cheeper to pay her to go away than to root out the real problem: Mr. Clegg.
Sounds to me like the district threatened the newspaper not to publish the story. Wonder if they would have pulled the same sort of stunt if the StarTribune or Pioneer Press got the story first? Great job by John Gessner.
Sounds to me that we should not be giving individual contracts to anyone that works in education. School Administrators are all over paid for the services they provide. True educators educate because that is their passion. Scam-mers insist on a contract and this is perpetuated by the myth that we can not get qualified people without one.
I also agree with the comment from Gary, St. Paul. The real problem is Mr. Clegg. I’m sure language in his contract would cost the taxpayers a million dollars to get rid of him.
My concern is we may have people working for the school district that should not be among our students and thus we should have everything released. That is why the school district has insurance. I applaud the release of information to the taxpayers.
Maybe the real problem was/is Tania Z. Chance. Judgements and opinions made from reading news articles or listening to media reports and not based on PERSONAL knowledge/experience or proven facts can totally “be in left field”. Remember the purpose of the media industry…….to gain viewers or readers and make money. #191 residents are suffering as a result of choices made by the school board. As in the business world, the buck stops at the top……this time the top is Ron Hill, chairman of the Board. District 191 has released a very appropriate statement within legal parameters. Remember taxpayers…..we do not want any more buyouts.