BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County School Board approved a separation agreement for Superintendent Mark Rendell during a sometimes contentious special meeting Tuesday, with residents questioning why the decision could not wait until the new board is sworn in next week.
The agreement makes Friday, Nov. 13, Rendell’s final day with Brevard Public Schools.
Rendell is leaving for a position at Eastern Florida State College, as Channel 9 previously reported.
The approved agreement provides an earlier departure than the Nov. 27 date listed in a version previously posted on the district’s meeting portal.
Questions over timing
Anthony Colucci, president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, questioned the urgency of approving a separate agreement, arguing Rendell’s existing contract already provides for payment of his earned leave and benefits.
“Why the rush? What is so urgent that cannot wait? Dr. Rendell voluntarily chose to resign. His existing contract already provides for payment of his earned leave and benefits,” Colucci told the board.
Rendell told Eyewitness News he stayed to help get two ballot measures across the finish line: the school district’s sales surtax and millage referendum. He said he was eligible to retire last year but decided to return for that reason.
Leave payouts due by year’s end
The agreement lists approximately 178 hours of unused vacation leave and 1,094.7 hours of unused sick leave. Not all of those hours were accrued during Rendell’s time as superintendent.
Payments will be calculated under Rendell’s employment contract and applicable state limits. Leave earned before he became superintendent will be paid at the rates associated with his previous positions.
Any leave taken before his departure will reduce those balances. Payments are due by Dec. 31.
The document does not provide a total dollar amount for the leave payouts. It also calls for required retirement payments to go directly to the Florida Retirement System.
Other separation terms
The agreement includes a mutual release of employment-related claims between Rendell and the School Board. It states that the agreement is not an admission of liability or culpability.
The district will continue providing legal defense and indemnification for matters arising from Rendell’s official duties, subject to his existing contract.
Rendell also agrees to cooperate with district-related investigations and legal proceedings. When requested under the agreement, that work will be compensated at his final hourly rate, with reimbursement for reasonable expenses.
New role at Eastern Florida
Eastern Florida State College announced Nov. 5 that Rendell would become its vice president of workforce education.
He will oversee workforce and career education initiatives and partnerships with business and industry, according to the college.
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