NAFCS board narrowly approves retirement agreement with Superintendent Snyder

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) – New Albany Floyd County Schools Superintendent Brad Snyder has retired without fanfare, and the school corporation's board narrowly approved Friday an agreement that will pay him a year's base salary in a 4-3 vote.

Snyder, who has been superintendent for New Albany Floyd County Schools since 2018 after previously serving as assistant superintendent, said he was unavailable for an interview Friday. He did not attend Friday's meeting.

"Effective June 30, 2022, I am retiring my employment with the New Albany Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation," Snyder said in a brief retirement notice dated June 29 included in the retirement agreement.

The New Albany Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation Board of Trustees passed an agreement that will pay Snyder $181,960 in severance pay. A quarter of the amount, $45,490 minus applicable taxes, will be paid to Snyder within 30 days of the agreement's execution while the remaining 75%, $136,470 minus applicable taxes, will be paid as part of the school corporation's first payroll of January 2023.

Board President Elaine Murphy, Vice President Jenny Higbie and members Joseph Brown and Rebecca Gardenour voted in favor of the agreement while board members Elizabeth Galligan, Donna Corbett and Lee Ann Wiseheart opposed.

"I would like to thank Dr. Snyder for all his years of service to New Albany Floyd County Schools," Murphy said. "He's done many fine things, and I wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors."

The three board members who voted against the retirement agreement between the board and Snyder said they disagreed with his six-figure severance pay.

"This certainly is not, in my opinion, in the best interest of our students, our staff or Floyd County taxpayers," Galligan said. "This is in the best interest of only one party. It favors a teammate, but not the team."

Wiseheart told WDRB News that she would have voted for the agreement if it did not include the $181,960 payment to Snyder, the maximum allowed by Indiana law.

"I think the corporation is ready for different and new leadership that's going to take us into an exciting new future," she said after Friday's meeting. "... He has given us a lot of service and done a lot of really good things for our corporation. I think it's just time, for me personally, I would like to see a different kind of leadership."

Wiseheart and others declined to discuss the circumstances of Snyder's retirement and would only comment on the agreement. "Anything beyond the contract that you have in your hands would be considered a personnel matter so we're not able to discuss it," Wiseheart said.

Snyder's retirement is irrevocable under terms of the agreement, and the board also agreed to put him on paid leave from June 28 through June 30. The board's agenda for Friday's meeting only listed an administrator retirement and did not specify Snyder's departure.

The board has scheduled a meeting Wednesday to pick a temporary interim superintendent and begin the process of searching for an interim superintendent and Snyder’s permanent replacement.

"I do not speak for the board, but me personally, I'm looking for someone who can be very high energy, someone who has superintendent experience and someone who is able to lead this community, our students and our staff into the next generation, whether it be technology, whether it be virtual, whether it be in class, just someone who has the ability to be a good leader in our corporation for what the future holds for us," Wiseheart said.

Snyder is the latest administrator to leave New Albany Floyd County Schools. Assistant Superintendent Bill Briscoe also announced his retirement in July, and he will be replaced by Thomas Brillhart, who will begin his duties July 20.