The Columbus Municipal School District has agreed to a settlement with former superintendent Martha Liddell, a move that cancels a termination hearing that was scheduled for later this month and brings to an official end Liddell’s employment with the district.
In a specially called meeting of the CMSD school board, the board announced the district and Dr. Liddell had reached a mutual agreement on the settlement.
Under the terms of the settlement, CMSD will pay Liddell $10,000. While the specific terms of the agreement are confidential, the school board must disclose any money that is paid.
Board president Jason Spears declined to comment today.
Liddell was fired by a 3-2 vote of the board on June 17 after it was reported she used district money to pay for a private party held at Trotter Center in December.
A week after the dismissal, Liddell filed suit against the district, asking to be reinstated as superintendent. That suit was dismissed in July pending a termination hearing. The hearing was originally scheduled for September but was continued for 45 days.
Liddell was promoted from interim superintendent to superintendent on May 31, 2012, in an unanimous vote by the CMSD Board of Trustees. She signed a three-year contact and was to be paid a base salary of $150,000 for the 2012-13 school year, $159,970 for 2013-14 and $173,017.33 for 2014-2015.
She had served as interim superintendent since May 2011, replacing superintendent Dr. Del Phillips, who resigned to take over as director of schools for the Sumter County School District in Gallatin, Tenn.
Before becoming interim superintendent Liddell served as assistant superintendent for CMSD since 2007. She also served previously as the district’s test coordinator, director of middle schools, and principal of Sale Elementary.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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