Pulaski board calls Thompson dishonest, disloyal

• Pulaski board also called him disloyal
• Superintendent will be paid through 2016
• Resignation not related to March 17-18 lunchroom fight

PULASKI – The Pulaski School Board felt former district superintendent Milt Thompson was dishonest and handled the discipline of an employee poorly in a review that led to his June resignation, according to documents released this week.

The board scheduled a termination hearing, but Thompson resigned first. He will continue to be paid through the next school year. He earns $147,000 annually.

According to documents released to Press-Gazette Media through an open records request, the board listed the following reasons for parting ways with Thompson:

• Disloyalty and dishonesty to the board concerning the termination of the varsity girls basketball coach.

• Disloyalty and dishonesty to the board concerning discontinuing the after-school childcare program, misleading the board and the public.

• Disloyalty and dishonesty to the board regarding documentation concerning an administrator's performance. In January 2015, Thompson was asked pointedly whether he had followed through with oversight of another administrative employee and specifically whether that information was in the administrator's personnel file, and he said that it was.

• Disloyalty and dishonesty to the board regarding attendance at the 2015 state education convention. The district covered Thompson's registration expenses, but he attended as a representative of another organization.

• Disloyalty and dishonesty to the board regarding Internet use during regular school district business hours. On several occasions. Thompson told board members that he used the Rosetta Stone website for Spanish lessons after hours, specifically after 4:30 p.m. A limited search of his account activity showed that in the course of about one month, Thompson accessed the Rosetta Stone website more than 3,500 times, frequently before 4:30 p.m.

• Incompetence with respect to knowledge of employee rights and Wisconsin's public records laws. Following the events of March 17 and 18 involving a teacher disciplinary matter and a student fight, Thompson met with the parents of the students and at that meeting provided them with district employee disciplinary documentation without first complying with the employee's right to advance notice and opportunity to challenge the release.

In a statement dated June 16, Thompson said: "Like a lawsuit, the charges brought by the board are allegations, nothing more. There are two sides to every story and I was prepared to defend against the allegations had we proceeded with a public hearing. Instead, the board and I mutually decided it was in the best interests of all to resolve our differences and move on. I acknowledge that I was not perfect, however both sides made mistakes during my tenure.

"Although the allegations against me lacked substance and gravity, I came to the conclusion that it would be difficult for me to continue to work with the board as district administrator and therefore it was in my best interest to resign and part company."

A Pulaski School Board member on Thursday said school officials are not allowed to discuss the matter as a condition of Thompson's resignation agreement.

Thompson was placed on paid leave in April. The School Board appointed assistant superintendent Bec Kurzynske as interim superintendent.

Thompson started work as superintendent on Aug. 1, 2013. He succeeded Mel Lightner, who left to take a similar job in the Grafton School District.

— pzarling@pressgazettemedia.com or follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling