The amount includes salary remaining on his contract as superintendent and accrued leave
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Public School district will pay former Superintendent Steve Webb $455,000 in two lump payments following his agreement to retire early.
The agreement, obtained via public records request, was reached after negotiation by outside legal counsel and agreed to in a 4-0 decision by the Vancouver School Board on Feb. 11.
It also includes a clause in which Webb, who had been with the district since 2008, agreed not to sue the district or the board for any reason.
Webb, who was named the state’s Public School Superintendent of the Year in 2016, had planned to step down as superintendent at the end of June, but remain with the district in an advisory role through July of 2022.
Following an executive session on Feb. 9, the board voted unanimously to place Webb on administrative leave, though no reason was given. Two days later, they voted to accept the terms of his immediate resignation.
According to public records, Webb was the highest paid superintendent in Clark County, and fourth-highest in the state, earning an annual base compensation of $329,094 per year.
The $455,000 Webb will receive includes accrued leave, as well as salary remaining in his original terms of employment. He received half of that amount upon signing his retirement agreement, with the second half due on Jan. 4 of 2022.
The district still has not announced a reason for their decision to force Webb’s early retirement. Board members had expressed frustration with delays in getting information out to parents on the district’s plans to expand hybrid learning, including errors that delayed a survey of families.
In an open letter to the community, Webb called Vancouver “a special place,” and said “I have never regretted landing in America’s Vancouver.” He also indicated that he plans to remain in the area as he enters retirement.
The Board held a public forum earlier this week to hear from four candidates to replace Webb, including Camas Superintendent Dr. Jeff Snell. A decision is expected in early March.
