Citing 'Differences of Opinion,' School Board OKs $225,000 Severance Deal for Superintendent

The West Des Moines school board approved a $225,000 severance package for Superintendent Peter Ansingh in a brief special school board meeting tonight, citing “differences of opinion.”

Ansingh, who has served as superintendent for the past two years, will leave June 30, according to a news release, and will be paid his full salary. Read the full agreement.

Board Vice President Mark Lagomarcino told the Des Moines Register that Ansingh’s employment with the district was “a situation that didn’t work out,” though Ansingh always conducted himself in a professional manner

“It was just determined after careful consideration by a majority of the board, we decided to enter into this separation agreement,” he told the newspaper

In an email statement, Ansingh said leadership changes in key positions, the district’s designation as a “District in Need of Assistance” and budget challenges related to decreasing enrollment and the impact they would have on “both what we teach and the way we teach” were factors in the separation.

School board member Jill Hansen said that a fresh perspective will serve the district well “ in these times of critical changes in education.”

Ansingh’s resignation becomes effective June 30, but he will leave his post immediately. Also as part of the severance agreement, he will be paid his full annual salary of $200,000. He will also be paid for unused vacation and sick days, and will receive a positive letter of recommendation. His employment agreement was to have ended June 30, 2014.

Prior to coming to West Des Moines, Ansingh, 58, was superintendent of the West Valley School District in Yakima, WA.

The district is expectd to appoint an interim superintendent, but has not yet decided whether to begin the search for a ne superintendent right away, according to the newspaper.