ASHLAND – Upon threat of termination, a longtime Ashland City Schools maintenance employee has offered his resignation.
After more than 25 years with the district, Michael Rauscher agreed to resign effective Sept. 15, according to a separation agreement approved by the district’s board of education Monday. He will remain covered by the district’s insurance through Sept. 30.
The board had planned to hold an executive session to discuss discipline and termination of a public employee, followed by a vote on a recommendation to terminate a public employee, according to Monday’s meeting agenda.
Instead, the board struck the executive session from the agenda and approved the separation agreement containing Rauscher’s resignation.
Rauscher is employed as a delivery driver between buildings and also performs other maintenance department work, such as mowing, according to district Supt. Doug Marrah.
Marrah characterized the agreement as a result of an ongoing performance issue rather than a single event. He said the situation involved neither misuse of public funds nor harm or threat of harm to students.
As part of the agreement, Rauscher and the local chapter of Ohio Association of Public School Employees agreed to withdraw union grievances from June 2018 concerning allegations of Rauscher’s misconduct.
In exchange, the agreement indicates, the district will not give Rauscher a negative reference.
“Any future employment references will be directed to the Business Manager who will respond by indicating the dates of employment by Rauscher in the district,” the agreement states.
The board took no other action Monday, but heard a brief update from Marrah, who reported summer construction projects are running smoothly as the district gears up for the start of the school year Aug. 27.
