CANFIELD — Alex Geordan won’t miss a Canfield schools paycheck once he leaves as superintendent, as long as he doesn’t get another job right away.

The agreement that will allow Geordan to leave his superintendent position at month’s end — three-and-a-half years early — first will pay his full salary through July 31, 2020. That’s because he will continue to work off-site as “special assistant for transition” with an interim superintendent in place as a new superintendent is sought.

But he also is eligible to receive his full salary as long as he is not actively employed, through Jan. 31, 2022.

The “agreement clarifying terms of separation” between the board of education and Geordan was provided Thursday by the school district upon request by The Vindicator.

Neither Geordan nor members of the school board can disparage each other to outside parties, including the media, according the document.

Geordan earns $116,792 per year, according to the Ohio Treasurer’s office website.

He has been superintendent with the district since Aug. 1, 2012. Geordan’s current contract runs through July 31, 2023.

But he resigned in the wake of criticism over how schools administration handled school threats and informed police.

The board of education voted Wednesday night to approve his resignation — without commenting other than Dave Wilkeson, board president, saying “yes” it will cost the district money.

The board unanimously approved John Tullio as interim superintendent, Jan. 1 through July 31, 2020.

Geordan, according to the exit contract, may address the staff and community “regarding his accomplishments while superintendent” prior to his transition to special assistant.

THE DEAL

Beginning Jan. 1 through July 31, 2020, as Geordan works away from the school buildings as special assistant for transition, he will not have to use vacation time.

The board will pay all unused vacation and personal leave that would have been afforded through July 31.

Aug. 1, 2020, through July 31, 2021, Geordan will be paid all salary and benefits, including vacation and personal leave. This will be paid in a one-time lump-sum payment on Jan. 31, 2020, with all standard deductions, except State Teachers Retirement System withholding, taken out by the board.

If not employed through Jan. 31, 2022, Geordan will be paid his entire base pay.

No evaluations or disciplinary statements may be put into Geordan’s contract, nor can any statements — except his title and time as an employee of the district — be made about his time in the district if there are employment inquires.

WHAT HAPPENED

Last month, the police department provided details of 22 incidents dating back to 2012 to back up the claim that Canfield Local Schools administration “has a history of failing to report serious threats and other significant incidents to law enforcement.”

Among the incidents was one Nov. 17, 2018, in which a “confidential source notified (a Canfield Police Department school resource officer) that a note was discovered at the middle school reading, ‘I want to kill my math teacher.’ The student was suspended from school and the (school resource officer) was never notified,” the report states.

An incident from Feb. 27, 2018, involved two students who “talked about doing a school shooting,” the report says. It was investigated by Canfield police, but a Canfield High School principal showed police a text message from Geordan “stating something to the effect of ‘it would be better if there is no police report.'”

The school board, in a statement, said it is “proud of the progress of Canfield Local Schools under Mr. Geordan’s leadership and recognizes the many accomplishments the district has achieved during his time as superintendent. But at this time, the board needs to answer the call of its community and transition a new leader into the superintendency.

“The board will promptly begin a search for a superintendent whose skill set is compatible with the goals and vision of the board, the district and the Canfield community.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com