The Pine Bush School District responded to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Shawangunk Journal with details of the surprise resignation of Superintendent Brian Dunn in June. District officials have declined to explain why Dunn resigned, but the documents reveal that the settlement with Supervisor Brian Dunn leading to his resignation as of June 30 will cost the district $228,888 – a full year’s pay – plus such perquisites as vacation pay and health insurance.

The superintendent position was vacated in December 2021 because of the death of Tim Mains. In the interim, Donna Geidel, a longtime administrator in the district, came out of retirement to lead the district. Dunn was superintendent of the Middleburgh School District when hired by unanimous vote in July 2022. Prior to Middleburgh, Dunn had been a middle school principal in the Troy school district. Both of those districts had high praise for Dunn upon his departure.

Currently, Amy Brockner is serving as interim superintendent while Pine Bush searches for Dunn’s replacement. At a recent school board meeting, former board member Judy Pulver asked Brockner if the district would seek input from the community before settling on a new top administrator. Pulver told Brockner not to bother unless community input was taken seriously, adding that community members advised the district to pass on Dunn. After the meeting, Pulver said she had no idea why Dunn resigned.

According to the agreement, Dunn will receive severance payments “equal to twelve (12) months gross salary, beginning July, 1, 2024 (less any payroll deductions) based upon Mr. Dunn’s 2024-2025 base salary, pursuant to his employment agreement.”

Dunn was hired at a base salary of $220,000. He began work on July 1, 2022, on a contract set to run through June 30, 2026. He was to receive a 2 percent raise based on $220,000 in his second, third and fourth years of employment, Joseph Lenz, the assistant superintendent for business, said this week.

In addition to his salary, the district will provide Dunn with family health insurance and dental and vision coverage for a period of two years from the date of his resignation. Some conditions apply, but in general the district will pay 80 percent of the premiums for health insurance.

The settlement also contains provisions should Dunn get another job within 24 months. Neither the district nor Dunn shall make any disparaging remarks about the other, according to the agreement.

Should the district be named as a party or witness to any litigation, Dunn agrees to provide his full cooperation to the district should it ask. Likewise, should Dunn be subpoenaed in any litigation regarding the district, he shall immediately notify the district, giving it the opportunity to respond to such notice before taking any action regarding such subpoenas.

It is signed by Dunn and Gretchen Meier, president of the Pine Bush Board of Education.