Elizabeth Keenan is paid $245,000 as superintendent of the Special School District of 最新杏吧原创 County.聽
ST. LOUIS COUNTY 鈥斅燭he Special School District of 最新杏吧原创 County has cut ties with its superintendent who has been on administrative leave.
Elizabeth Keenan and the school district鈥檚 board 鈥渉ave mutually agreed to a separation of their employment relationship, effective immediately,鈥 according to an email sent to area educators Friday.
Keenan鈥檚 departure is 鈥渁n internal personnel matter鈥 and there will be no further comment, the email said.
Michael Maclin, the district鈥檚 executive director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, will continue as acting superintendent. An update on the future of the leadership role will come in the next week, according to Friday鈥檚 email.
Keenan was placed on administrative leave in October, a move the district also referred to as 鈥渁n internal personnel matter.鈥
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She took the top role in the special education district in 2019 at a salary of $245,000. Keenan came to 最新杏吧原创 County after a two-year stint in Chicago Public Schools, where she led the district鈥檚 troubled special education program while it was under state oversight. Keenan earned $264,000 last year, according .
Most of the 23,000 students in the Special School District attend their home schools where they receive assistance from district staff. The district also oversees education in the county鈥檚 juvenile detention center and runs several specialized schools including North Tech and South Tech high schools. The district has a $500 million budget.
Just before Keenan was placed on leave, a subcommittee of the Special School District鈥檚 board met regarding an update of the policy on discrimination, harassment and retaliation, according to the agenda.
An unsigned memo sent soon after to nearly 6,000 district employees came with several warnings involving the superintendent鈥檚 departure.
鈥淓mployees should refrain from gossip or speculation regarding a confidential personnel matter such as this one. Such behavior detracts from one鈥檚 job duties and from the care and education of students, and should thus be avoided. Further, only the Board or its specific designees are authorized to speak publicly regarding this matter on behalf of the District,鈥 the memo read.
Staff were also reminded in the memo of anti-retaliation policies in the district, and told to discuss concerns with an administrator if they 鈥渁re experiencing any form of retaliation.鈥
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