Editor’s note: This article is by Derek Carson, of the Bennington Banner, in which it was first published March 17, 2016.
BENNINGTON — The board of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union has voted to give Chief Financial Officer Rick Pembroke until March 18 to submit a letter of resignation.
Should he do so, Pembroke will receive a severance payment of $94,783.83 for accrued leave time and salary through Sept. 30, 2016, along with a retirement contribution on such salary and health, dental and life insurance through that date, according to the motion, which was made after an executive session at the board’s special meeting Tuesday night. Pembroke has been on paid administrative leave since last month, although the supervisory union has not yet gone on record with the reason why.
Longtime SVSU finance office employee Mary Buak has been acting business manager since Pembroke was placed on leave. Superintendent James Culkeen said he could not speak to what further actions board members would take if and when they receive Pembroke’s letter of resignation, including whether they would release a statement on why the actions were taken. The next regularly scheduled SVSU meeting is next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Mount Anthony Union Middle School library.
Pembroke was hired as SVSU’s business officer in 2005 and was named CFO in 2012. Since Pembroke was placed on leave, the Bennington School District board voted to explore withdrawing from the SVSU, and voted no confidence in Culkeen and Assistant Superintendent Donna Leep. A source close to the situation told the Banner that these actions are connected, but no members of the BSD board have been willing to confirm this.
The full motion the SVSU board made on Tuesday is as follows: “Upon receipt of an irrevocable letter of resignation from Rick Pembroke with an effective date of no later than March 18, 2016 and an executed general release, the Superintendent shall be authorized to execute an employment separation agreement with Mr. Pembroke providing for a severance payment of $94,783.83 for accrued leave time and salary through September 30, 2016, along with a retirement contribution on such salary and health, dental and life insurance through such date.”
No members of the SVSU board responded to requests for comment.
