Press Releases & Documents

Release Agreement between School Committee & Dr. Harutunian

• Release Agreement, June 8, 2006 - Download PDF (555 KB)

North Andover School Committee

April 11, 2006

The North Andover School Committee has accepted a proposal to resolve all issues related to Superintendent Harutunian’s employment. Superintendent Harutunian agreed to resign in return for a financial settlement equal to fourteen and one-half months salary, or approximately $187,000. The settlement, subject to final agreement on language, will resolve all employment contract and other claims.

Although this settlement was a difficult decision, the School Committee believes that the District’s primary interest to provide quality education for our children is best served by ending the current controversy on the least costly basis possible. Had this settlement not been reached, the District was advised by counsel that it would face many months of litigation, engendering further escalating costs and a continuing drain on personnel resources. As with any litigation, the final outcome would be uncertain. The controversy has disrupted the District’s smooth functioning and been a strain and distraction to administrator’s and staff as they work to provide the high quality educational services our children deserve.

The School District faces a significant challenge to find ways of continuing to provide adequate levels of services with diminished resources. All stakeholders need to be involved in devoting their full attention to this challenge and by providing support to the staff and students. The School Committee considered the costs of continuing to deal with Superintendent Harutunian’s employment issues over the long term versus the benefits of settling the dispute now. The Committee decided that the benefits of settling the dispute outweighed the costs of indefinitely extending the legal process.

Ending the disruption now allows the District to avoid further distraction and to move forward in a positive direction. The Committee will now devote its attention to developing and implementing an interim plan for replacing the District Superintendent.

The settlement involves personnel matters, which are protected by privacy rights. The Committee therefore cannot legally discuss any facts on which the Committee based its decision. Further, public comment may expose the Committee to additional legal claims. Thus, the Committee will make no statements about the specific incidents, which led to this decision.

March 24, 2006 - School Committee

The School Committee and Dr. Harutunian had a frank exchange and we are in the process of hiring an independent investigator to provide us a full report regarding the facts of this matter. After the investigator's report is complete the School Committee will make a determination regarding the course of action to be taken. Dr. Harutunian has been cooperative and has assured us that he will continue to fully cooperate with this investigation. He has offered to take vacation time during the period of this investigation. The School Committee will have no further comment on this matter until the investigation is complete.

March 24, 2006 - Dr. Harutunian

Today has been a very long day for the North Andover Public Schools and particularly for the school committee and myself. During a six- hour meeting with the North Andover School Committee, numerous questions were asked of me. I answered each and every question. The committee also asked questions of other individuals with knowledge of the matter. I was honest with the committee and I believe that the only way to clear this situation would be for me to go on vacation while the North Andover School Committee conducts an investigation.

I want parents, staff, community and most of all the students of the North Andover Public Schools to know how sorry I am that I did not foresee the consequences of my personal decisions and did not foresee the public's perception of a personal relationship I began with a school department coworker.

The past year has been very difficult for me personally and for my family. I am confident that in the next week the investigation will show that I have been honest and frank with the school committee and that certain rumors and statements that have been made are completely false.

In the end, I recognize that personal decisions made by me are the source of these troubles and I am sorry for the pain to other individuals and the community my decisions have caused.

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