At Least a Month Before Resignation, Superintendent's Departure Was Under Discussion

At least one month before he resigned, Cedar Falls Superintendent Mike Wells was aware the school board was considering not renewing his contract, emails obtained by Patch show.

In emails provided to Patch under the Iowa Open Records Law, Wells asked school board president Deon Senchina if she would provide a positive reference for him in a hunt for another job. He also discussed his options with school board member Jim Brown.

Wells, who is serving his first year as Cedar Falls superintendent, sent an email to school district staff on Feb. 25 stating his intention to resign. At a school board meeting that night, he withdrew the resignation, saying he had been led to believe he had the school board's support. The next day the board called a special meeting to take action on his contract. At the Feb. 27 meeting the board made it clear they would vote not to renew his contract. That same night, Wells announced his resignation, effective June 30.

After Wells' initial resignation notice on Feb. 25, Senchina told Patch and other media outlets she was not expecting his resignation.

"It just took me by surprise," she said at the time.

However, the emails reveal there is more to the story, though Senchina said on Thursday she had no comment on the discrepancy. Wells, reached by phone Friday, also said he had no comment.

On Jan. 27, Wells emailed Senchina:

Dee,

I will attempt to get another position. In order for me to have a chance at any jobs, I will have to act quickly with most positions being advertised now with deadlines looming in early February. Schools will want to speak to the Board President to see if I'm worthy of having. I am asking your permission to list you as a reference, I'm hopeful you can find something positive to say about me. Could you, and would you, write me a positive letter of recommendation? I apologize for the urgency, but if you are willing to I would need it this week. If I'm fortunate enough to get an interview, my only angle is that I'm not made for a 4A, too political and removed from the children. Please let me know if I can list you as a reference. At this point, I would like to keep this between you and me. Thank you.

Mike

Senchina replied that evening:

Mike -

Absolutely I will Mike. There are many great things I can and will gladly share to help with this transition. To be sure I meet your deadline, let me get a draft together in the next couple of days that you & I can review and edit. Confidentiality is important for all and I will not share with anyone -

Dee

On Jan. 28, Wells emailed Senchina and told her he would inform the board of his decision to apply elsewhere:

As stated throughout my closed sessions, communications has been a problem. I have stewed all weekend over the issue of applying other places and with board communication. I am requesting the closed session tonight so I can notify the board of my intent to apply other places. I want to follow the practice of "no surprises", and if I didn't notify the board, it would be one more example of me not communicating.

The closed sessions Wells refers to are what apparently led to his decision to apply for jobs elsewhere. On Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Jan. 23 and Jan. 25 the board had met in closed session under section 21.5(i) of the Iowa Code, which allows the board to meet in closed session to discuss the job performance of someone the board is considering hiring - or firing. On Jan. 16, Senchina emailed board member James Kenyon, who was out of the country:

We conducted Mike's mid-year review last Monday night... We are meeting again on the 23rd to try to decide what to do about the contract next year. Because he is in his first year we have the option to renew for 0,1,3 years.... Hopefully the group will be able to reach a decision on the 23rd.

However, though he appeared worried, Wells apparently wasn't convinced his fate was set in stone. According to the emails, he was considering a superintendency vacancy in nearby Waverly, but wasn't sure he was ready to give up on Cedar Falls. On Jan. 30 he emailed school board member Jim Brown, who along with Dave Williams voted not to accept Wells' resignation on Feb. 27:

Jim,

I have faith in the board and think I want to pass on the Waverly opportunity. I think I want to battle for my job here, make the changes I need to make and continue to charge ahead. I think Jim K. (board member James Kenyon) will support me. I know you would lead me in the right direction. Am I making a good decision? I plan on sending out an email to the board later today, but wanted your thoughts.

Mike

Brown apparently agreed there was a possibility Wells' job could be saved. He replied:

My first thought is to wait on sending anything to the board pertaining to your Waverly decision (which I also believe is a good one), since you have until Monday - let us stew about the implications that decision would draw for the district and allow the process at hand to come to a conclusion. I'm having a meeting with Dee later this afternoon... I'm not saying any instant miracles are going to take place but there are some things I want to convey to her face-to-face about this process we've been following.

I also plan on meeting with Joyce. (Board member Joyce Coil)

Jim Brown

On Feb. 20, just one week before he officially resigned, Wells emailed Brown again. This time, his email expressed both "faith in the board" to embrace his wide-sweeping vision of progress, but also a tone of frustration, along with fears about having to uproot his family:

I'm just trying to survive here and move the district forward. I have faith in the board. I believe in the board and hope they believe in me and are truly willing to change the district... We are making progress... Have there been issues, sure but look at CF today and where we were 7 months ago...

I know some of the board members are nervous but we are heading in the right direction. I am proud of the work we have done. If the board is not, then I guess I have to uproot my family and move on. I pray this is not the case because I know we can make Cedar Falls the best system in the country we just have to have the fortitude to do it. I sold out coming to CF, I'm all in. I'm hoping the board is "all in" as well. Tomorrow is the come to Jesus meeting but the snow many prevent the meeting. Sign from God? (LOL)

The next day, Feb. 21, the snow was not enough to prevent that meeting - the board met again in closed session.

On Feb. 25 Wells submitted his initial resignation notice, which he withdrew that night, apparently under the mistaken belief there was still a last minute chance the board would change its mind. He was wrong, and on Feb. 27 he resigned, this time officially.

This is part 2 of a 3 part story based on 1,000 pages of emails provided to Patch by the Cedar Falls Community School District.

Read part 1:

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