Milton School Board names interim schools superintendent
Photo 
Michael S. Garrow
MILTON — The Milton School District is moving forward with a temporary replacement for Superintendent Mike Garrow, who was placed on leave in October.
The school board in a special meeting Thursday night named longtime Milton East Elementary School Principal Theresa Rusch interim superintendent.
In a news release, the board said it was glad to appoint Rusch to the position, noting that she had planned to retire at the end of the school year.
Board President Rob Roy could not be reached late Thursday for details about how the district would compensate Rusch or how it would handle her positions at East and Consolidated elementary schools, where she is principal.
The district still is paying Garrow full pay and benefits. He is on an approved leave of absence through June 30.
The district initially put Garrow on leave after it received a "verbal complaint" Oct. 9 or Oct. 10 about Garrow's conduct, Roy said. It wasn't until Oct. 12 that Roy gave Garrow a notice that he was put on leave pending an investigation of his conduct by a board-appointed attorney.
Roy said he didn't give Garrow details about the complaint or the investigation at the recommendation of the board's attorney.
"He had that letter that placed him on leave," Roy said. "He knew something was going on, but he didn't know what it was related to until later, when he was talked to by an investigator."
Roy declined to give more information about the leave, citing laws protecting Garrow's privacy. The Gazette has formally requested district records of the complaint and the investigation.
Roy on Thursday refused to comment on the investigation, including its status or whether Garrow's ongoing leave is tied to the investigation or complaint.
Roy indicated the investigation never dealt with misappropriation of funds or criminal activity.
"There was no misappropriation," Roy said. "That was one of the rumors that was going around, I guess."
In a letter Garrow wrote last week in response to media open records requests about his leave, he denied what he called rumors, saying he didn't have an affair and was not involved in any "immoral" activities.
Garrow has maintained the leave has given him time to deal with his father's death and other family issues, and that it also will give him a chance to "pursue his dreams."
Garrow earns a salary of $122,000. His contract runs through June 30, 2014, according to district records.
It's not clear if he'll return after his leave.
Garrow told The Gazette in mid-October that he asked for the leave. He said he was unaware of any allegations about his conduct tied to his leave.
"If there is, it's news to me," he said.
That was shortly after the board had put Garrow on leave pending the investigation, although the board did not announce the investigation until after The Gazette filed an open records request earlier this month.
Roy said he would not comment on Garrow's statements because state law prevents him from discussing district personnel.
"I'd like to hold a press conference and tell everybody everything and have it cleared up and go away. I'm not legally able to do that," Roy said. "He (Garrow), on the other hand, can say whatever he wants."
Dec 2, 2012 at 9:54 a.m.
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"I'd like to hold a press conference and tell everybody everything and have it cleared up and go away. I'm not legally able to do that," Roy said. "He (Garrow), on the other hand, can say whatever he wants."
Translation (I speak "Roy" fluently these days):
'Quit asking me questions. This is all Garrow's fault. Go ask him. He can say whatever he wants however the board refuses to accept any responsibility for any of this except paying Garrow. And as long as we pay Garrow he will likely stay silent.'
Milton loves to do payouts and bend rules or change policies in exchange for silence. It works too...for a little while.
Dec 2, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
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Release the records, Milton School Board. It is that simple.
Any damage to be done has already been done. Concerned parents, taxpayers, and community members have the right to know. I don't care who was diddling who or when but we need to see the logic that was used when it was decided that paying Garrow his very handsome salary in exchange for not working was a better idea than to...say....use those funds to begin easing the overcrowding and large classroom numbers posing safety and educational concerns at Northside, making improvements and repairs to schools, fixing the very sad conditions of special education in the district, revamping transportation and fixing the 'mess' in that area...the list of issues directly affecting students and their education goes on an on. Yet Garrow gets paid. Nothing makes sense and a little transparency would go a long way right now.
Vote OUT any running incumbents for the school board in the Spring. Do so systematically every spring until we get some folks in those seats who are not afraid to stand up and say NO to the baiting, switching, and lies. The issue with Garrow is important, however, let us look at one of the bigger issues here. It isn't Garrow who was GIVEN his pay by the board. IT IS THE BOARD IN WHICH WAS ELECTED THAT MADE THIS "MESS" A JOKE. And it seems as though the school board is using taxpayers as an endless ATM to pay their way out of their 'mess'. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY!?!?!
Dec 1, 2012 at 2:47 p.m.
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Reading between the lines, Buzz McPhearson, it sounds like you have bought into unproven rumors.
Maybe "paid leave" is the most cost effective solution the board has after their investigation proved nothing, as compared to a lawsuit. To grant such a large sum of money might be an apology.
Dec 1, 2012 at 9:08 a.m.
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Maybe there is a medical issue
and the board cannot comment because
of HIPPA regulations.
Dec 1, 2012 at 7:02 a.m.
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Reading between the lines, I would conclude that the board knows that Garrow is guilty of 'some type' of misconduct. The problem is, it would take an admission of guilt from the people involved to prove it. Without proof they can't terminate him, but yet they do not want him leading the district. The only option was to put him on paid leave. And they surely can not talk publicly about the situation without fear of Garrow taking legal action against them. I guess the board is between a 'rock and a hard place'.
Nov 30, 2012 at 10:34 p.m.
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If there is no problem, why can't this guy pull it together and do his job?
I understand that the loss of his father was traumatic and he has my sympathy on that issue,
but unless he has serious mental problems, he should be able to deal with that
and do the job that he is being paid to do.
If he is unable to work for a legitimate reason, that is one thing,
but all of the answers that the board is giving seem to indicate that there is no problem.
Does he have a pursuit of dreams clause in his contract?
Nov 30, 2012 at 8:44 p.m.
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In my opinion this was a step in the direction. However we still need to figure out what to do next. Do we retain Mr Garrow for the 2013-2014 school year or do we hire someone else to fill the position. Now if the decision is to go with someone else in my opinion we should begin the search rather than waiting till the end of the school year. Plus we have to pay two people to do the same job because of Mr. Garrow being put on leave. So now it becomes a question of what to do for next the 2013-2014 school year.
Nov 30, 2012 at 5:12 p.m.
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Rob Roy states the law protects Garrows privacy. Maybe this law needs to be changed so that someone in Garrows predicament gets a choice. He could choose the money or privacy, but not both. Gazette, please keep digging for the truth.
Nov 30, 2012 at 4:43 p.m.
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"investigation never dealt with misappropriation of funds or criminal activity"
.
Maybe it should.......
Nov 30, 2012 at 4:39 p.m.
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Two reasons to celebrate in Milton! First is that Mrs. Rusch is an excellent choice for this position and secondly, that Mr. Garrow is gone.
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