Torkelson’s
Contract – Part 1
THE
GENESIS OF A BIG MISTAKE
A recent
exchange of comments in Mercer School Facts displayed that there is a good amount
of confusion and lack of knowledge about the employment contract of
Administrator Erik Torkelson.
This
interest has been prompted by the new Mercer School Board’s apparent attempt to
terminate Torkelson, who has been on medical leave since last June. Since then the board has delved into the
school’s financial and academic records, apparently leading to the realization
that Torkelson must not be allowed back in the school. The board named as an interim administrator,
Sheri Kopka, to help correct many of the wrongs created during Torkelson’s
eight-year reign of mismanagement. And
they have been making progress.
But the
troubling problem remains: How do they
terminate Torkelson? Complicating the
issue is that firing a person while on medical leave could expose the school
district to a discrimination lawsuit because it might appear the person is
being terminated due to a medical condition.
Of
course, this is not the case with Torkelson, who should have been terminated
years ago for mismanaging the education of the children and for unaccounted
spending, including paying himself far more than the terms of his contract.
Torkelson
was hired in 2011 by his then future mother-in-law and school board President
Kelly Kohegyi, without any experience as an administrator. He was given an overly generous annual salary
of $98,000, plus about $30,000 in benefits.
Somehow, he managed to pay himself over $150,000 in most subsequent years
without any explanation and without being questioned by a school board which he
controlled. Then, too,
the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction earlier ruled that Torkelson had
misspent $185,465 of Fund 80 money in two years. It did not investigate the other six years of
Torkelson’s reign.
The last
of Torkelson’s minions. Micki Holmstrom, left the school board this last April,
and one of his longtime supporters, former board President Deanna Pierpont, was
rejected by Mercer voters in her bid to be elected back on the board, also this
last April. His mother-in-law, Kelly
Kohegyi, and another minion, Denise Thompson, were voted off the board in
earlier elections.
So, what
is in the contract? Part 2 coming up.
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MERCER
ADMINISTRATOR' S CONTRACT
ADMINISTRATOR' S CONTRACT
IT IS HEREBY AGR.EED by and between the Board of Education of the
School District of Mercer (Board or District) and Erik Torkelson, that the Board
does hereby employ Erik Torkelson in the position as stated below.
The School Board of the Mercer School District (hereinafter referred to as the
Board) and Erik Torkelson agree to the following contract for the position of
Superintendent. This contract is for an automatic and continuous term, beginning
on July 1, 2011, and ending two (2) years from the date the school board votes to
stop the contract from continuing on such automatic and continuous basis. For
purposed of salary and benefits increases, each July 1st is designated as the
anniversary date of the contract.
Mr. Torkelson will assume the position of District Superintendent beginning July 1, 2011 provided Mr, Torkelson has obtained appropriate licensure and
successfully carried out his job duties and responsibilities. This contract shall
cover twelve (12) months/260 days per year under a schedule approved by the
School District of Mercer.
