The community college administrator fired earlier this month for a lost of purported transgressions is asking for an appeal.
Marty Parsons, the former senior vice president for administrative services and chief financial officer at Northwest Arkansas Community College, had filed an appeal to his firing. And he’s bringing a six-attorney law firm to the table with him.
This oughta get reeeeeeal interesting if some deeper facts begin to emerge as things progress.
A news account says that a memorandum signed by Paneitz in Parsons’ personnel file states he was counseled on issues including insubordination, failure to complete the college budget in a timely manner, inappropriate language and low morale in his department. Parsons was given 30 days to improve and “further inappropriate behavior could result in his termination.” In other words, it made the man look like some kind of loose cannon rolling wildly across the decks of the U.S.S. NWAC
Parsons was fired Aug. 1. Paneitz’s letter described nine matters discussed in a July 25 meeting between them. Lawyer Cate says Parsons received the memorandum with the nine issues for the first time on Aug. 1. Huh?
“Mr. Parsons was never given the opportunity to address the issues raised in the July 25 memo to file prior to his termination,” Cate writes. “It appears that Dr. Paneitz had a conflict of interest because she had not received a complete account of the issues discussed in the July 25 memo to file at the time she terminated Mr. Parsons.”
Well, if earlier responses to my opinion about Parson’s firing are any indication, there are some deep current running beneath the waves of this controversy. Some say parsons got what he earned while others say he was the most refreshing breath of fresh air at NWACC in years. Perhaps this appeal will shed some light on his performance and Paneitz’s management style — just for starters.
Whole lotta “huh” going on when comparing that memorandum to the appeal letter. The fact that he pushed back on a seemingly unjustified and unethical termination ratchets the guy’s character up in my book. Deep currents, to be sure. From the comments I’ve read, almost all have been in support of Parsons. Meanwhile, don’t contact the Board of Trustees, don’t speak to the press. Business as usual at NWACC.
Parsons’ appeal has yet to be officially responded to? The president made a mistake, Parsons should be reinstated with apology. If this doesn’t happen, the taxpayers are going to be paying for a lot more if I’m reading his appeal correctly (Parsons’ remaining contract term) or, next step, lawsuit? Part of me would love to see this go to litigation. Visions of that subpoena list and sworn testimony. THE TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING ALL OF THIS. Apologize for the ‘mistake’, reinstate and move on.
I am curious if anyone has solicited comments from the previous 5 or 6 CFO’s that have been removed for their viewpoint or if they were required to sign a confidentiality agreement. I think everyone is scratching their heads in disbelief at how you fire someone with cause with no documentation. I don’t know any leadership that agrees with dismissing someone without another present. That is a lawsuit waiting to happen. And rightfully so!
NWACC’s president might be making a huge assumption, that staff acquiescence is the same as support. That’s called job security. It’s absolutely absurd to allow this situation to go to litigation when the Board of Trustees is empowered to right this obvious wrong. Continued use of taxpayer dollars for legal fees is obscene. Is anyone considering the cost of a settlement? Parsons extended an olive branch for a fix, awfully fair-minded considering the circumstances.