×

South Tama Asst. principal- activity director contract is terminated

Brent Bagnall

On a 4-1, vote the probationary contract of Brent Bagnall, assistant South Tama High School principal and the school activities director was terminated at the end of the current school year.

Bagnall is in the third year of the probationary contract as an administrator as been a district employee since Aug. 10, 2010.

The action was taken upon the recommendation of Superintendent Jared Smith.

In making the motion for termination, 4th District Board Member Alan Kline said he was basing his action on reliance on the judgment of Smith whom the board put their confidence in with his hiring two years ago. Voting in favor of the termination were members Penny Tyynissmaa, Mandy Lekin, Clint Werner and Kline 1st District Board Member Ron Houghton cast the lobe no vote.

Houghton said he objected to the termination process because Iowa law does not provide Bagnall with the opportunity to discuss the decision not to renew his contract with the board prior to the action. The action is final leaves no room for reconsideration by the board according to Iowa law, Smith said.

However, the law does provide Bagnall the opportunity to file a request to meet with board members if made within 10 days of receiving the notice of the termination. Houghton said he found of no value in this.

He also said he has been questioned by a patron about the matter and also questioned the portrayal of the virtues of the district when both the high school principal and assistant were leaving at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

High School Principal Roy Frakes’ retirement was accepted by the school board on Nov. 4.