The Gallup-McKinley County Board of Education unanimously approved a contract Jan. 17 for interim superintendent Mike Hyatt. The action took place at the regular school board meeting and was met with a side suggestion from board member Joe Menini. In spite of an objection by Menini, the approval of the document went through.
Hyatt was thrust into the job after for Gallup-McKinley Schools Superintendent Frank Chiapetti was placed on paid administrative until the end of June 2017. Chiapetti earned $132,000 annually and Hyatt earned a little more than $88,000.
An addendum of the contract states that, “The administrator shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the entire district and recommend a strategic plan to identify areas for improvement.”
Menini said he had a problem with some verbage that stated that Hyatt’s contract could be ended if: “The parties expressly agree that the contract of employment is at-will and is terminable at the will of either part regardless of cause and without any requirement or the statement of any cause, therefore, upon the providing of written notice of termination to the other party,” the contract states.
In spite of Menini’s opposition, the board followed through on the approval of the full document. “In this new contract there is a legal right for termination by an upcoming board if the new board decides to do so,” he said. “With that I am still not at ease with this new contract, but I will still vote yes.”
Hyatt said after the meeting that he is pleased with the contract and will work hard to fulfill its terms. There was no discussion on the timeline to hire a full-time unstricted school superintendent for the gallup district.
By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent
