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So today, the Yellowstone County News published two articles about Dave Mahon, Superintendent of Havre Schools who resigned last week. It also turns out that Mr. Mahon resigned the same post at Huntley Project Schools in Worden, MT previously in the same fashion. However, the interesting twist is Mr. Mahon will get paid from the Havre School District for the next two years when he’s not even there. 

According to the Yellowstone County News, which is on the Huntleyproject.net website,  it has the town of Havre in a tissy-fit; at least word has it on the street.  Be it true or not, one has to wonder how those kinds of agreements come about.  I’m not sure if we will ever know, but one has to speculate.  That’s the fun part!  Anyhow, the following is a little of what she had to say in her brewings. 

If you think the cessation of Dave Mahon’s contract with the Havre school district is an interesting topic locally, you should hear the discussions on the street in Havre.

Our sources tell us the citizens are ticked. Their board agreed to pay out the remainder of Mahon’s contract this year, an additional $97,000, benefits and a letter of recommendation.

Fundamentally, it isn’t right to pay a year and a half salary to someone to do nothing.

Regardless of why they did this, every conceivable reason is purely speculation. Neither the board members nor Mahon are talking.

While there appears to be inappropriateness and coverups, a Billings attorney versed in school law suggests that the termination agreement may simply be the least expensive way for two parties to get out of a contractual agreement that just wasn’t working.

This legal counsel suggested that, like a divorce, contract disagreements get personal, involve money and hard feelings. The least scathing, least expensive way to terminate a contract is for both parties to reach a settlement.

But that doesn’t slow up the gossip on just what did happen. The coffee shop and bar stool versions are fueled by the fact that the district’s board did not keep the issue in the sunlight and in front of the people.

It went behind closed doors to negotiate and seal the deal. Shame on them for keeping the people out of the people’s business. They spent a great deal of the people’s money and won’t tell the people why.

Now the people have lost trust in their board.

Only time will tell if the mutually agreed upon termination was the least expensive option for this district.

This was part of Becky’s Brewings she authors periodically.  I do enjoy her insight from time to time.  Anyhow,  the other full article about mahon leaving is on the “News” section of the Huntley Project website where the Yellowstone County News is posted each week.  Enjoy.

Note:  Dave Mahon was the Superintendent at Huntley Project Schools at the time the school was burned by fire.  It was determined that the cause of the fire was arson.  He left shortly after for the superintendent position at Havre Public Schools.