Former Boston school superintendent Tommy Chang received $267,383, the equivalent of one year’s salary, for agreeing to resign with two years remaining on his contract.
CommonWealth magazine reports that the settlement agreement also calls for Chang to be paid for 27 days of accrued vacation time and three days of accrued personal paid time off. A portion of his health insurance will be paid for up to 12 months.
Although Boston Mayor Marty Walsh wanted Chang removed, the school committee wrote him a glowing letter of recommendation. “We have appreciated his partnership and his work in leading efforts toward equity and academic improvement in a complex school system,” the letter concludes.
As is typical of these types of severance arrangements, the parties are not allowed to criticize each other. “Both Dr. Chang and the City of Boston/School Committee agree that in any public statements each party shall refer to the other in a respectful manner,” the agreement states.
Chang became superintendent of the 56,000-student Boston school system in 2015. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Unified School District as a local instructional superintendent, where he oversaw 135 schools. He also worked as a principal of a charter high school, and a biology teacher.
