Ex-GRPS supt. sues for $330K severance

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Former Grand Rapids Public Schools superintendent Dr. Bernard Taylor is suing GRPS, saying the district owes him more than $300,000 in severance pay.

After Taylor's relationship with some members of the GRPS Board of Education deteriorated, he entered into a resignation agreement. In June 2011, he agreed to a severance deal that promised him 18 months of salary, which came to $330,600. At the time, board president Senita Lenear said the deal was at a discount compared to firing Taylor on the spot.

"If Dr. Taylor was at-will terminated, the severance would be nearly $1 million," she said.

According to Taylor's attorney Katherine Smith Kennedy, Taylor has yet to receive any of that severance package.

Kennedy claims the district refused to pay because of allegations of misconduct and mismanagement.

"That he mishandled programs and that he mishandled some contracts," Kennedy explained.

Kennedy also said the district brought up Taylor's autocratic leadership style, and said he had spending issues -- namely a large cell phone stipend and that he expensed car washes.

"Even if they were true, it has nothing to do with the contract and the money that they owe him," Kennedy said. "They knew all of this ahead of time, and if they thought is was misconduct then, then they could have fired him then and not paid a dime."

The school district would not confirm the allegations, or say if there were more. 24 Hour News 8 has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to learn more about the allegations.

Thomas M. Cooley Law School professor and former GRPS school board president Curt Benson said he doesn't know why the district is choosing not to pay Taylor. But, he said, in his experience, board members are probably listening to legal counsel.

"I'm going to give the school board the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they have a defense to this and have a good reason for this, and we won't know again until it plays out in court," Benson said.

"That kind of stuff is not typically relevant with the severance pack," Benson said about the allegations, but in his mind the district has always had strong legal representation. "When it comes to the legal stuff, Grand Rapids has always been pretty good."

Benson said the district's opinion will be revealed when its lawyers file a rebuttal to Taylor's lawsuit.

Kennedy said she and Taylor have made attempts to enter mediation that have been unsuccessful.

"The District has indicated it would rather litigate this matter and cost the taxpayers what will likely be tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees and court costs," Kennedy said in a Thursday news release. "Not to mention, this case will force the focus off the GRPS schools and students that badly need attention when it could have been resolved with a neutral mediator outside of court."

GRPS spokesman John Helmholdt provided this statement on the matter Thursday afternoon --

''GRPS will not be commenting on any pending legal matters related to the lawsuit Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr. has filed against the district."

Taylor served as GRPS's superintendent from April 2006 through June 2012. He is currently the superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools in Louisiana.