Collier school board attorney candidate withdraws, the board is revisiting the job description

A applicant for the place of Collier County Faculty Board lawyer withdrew his name, prompting the board to revisit publishing the placement once more.

On the other hand, the candidate James Molenaar, indicated in an electronic mail Feb. 10 that the present created him earlier experienced been rescinded.

Molenaar was authorized by the board on Jan. 23 to the recently established placement of school board attorney. Information and facts on the place implies it pays $180,000 a calendar year.

Molenaar and other candidates appeared just before the university board at that exclusive January conference. After the prospect interviews, the board chosen Molenaar by a 3-to-2 vote just after a vote to hire 1 of the other candidates unsuccessful.

Molenaar is a former senior legal counsel for the Collier County Clerk of Courts. He was fired from that publish in May well 2020, times soon after he filed to run for Collier County Clerk against Crystal Kinzel. Kinzel received re-election.

Preceding coverage: Collier University Board votes to seek the services of James Molenaar

The college lawyer issue was dealt with as “a make a difference of importance” at the beginning of a February 6 Specific Board Assembly for the Superintendent Search.

“On Thursday (Feb. 2) afternoon, Mr. Molenaar taken out his application from thing to consider as the board’s legal professional,” faculty district legal professional and district counsel Jon Fishbane informed the board. He then requested board chair Kelly Lichter, “Centered upon prior course from the board, I assume that you and (Valerie Wenrich, main Human Means Officer) will carry on with reposting a situation. Is that appropriate?” Lichter replied, “That is accurate.”

Details from the district’s communication’s office verified that the board attorney problem is to be taken up once again at the board’s March 7 assembly.

A Feb. 10 email authored by Molenaar, nevertheless, has a diverse take.

“As many of you know, after a extended and really general public interview and choice course of action, I was chosen to be the new Collier County Public Universities – University Board Attorney. Nevertheless, significantly less than two days prior to my appropriately scheduled start date of Monday, February 6, 2023, after I successfully completed all of the on-boarding paperwork, hrs of training, fingerprint scan and urine drug screening, the Human Assets Director unilaterally, without the request of Board acceptance, rescinded the Board’s supply of work without having affording me Thanks Procedure.  Of study course this is is a violation of CCPS Board Plan and I post the Assistant Superintendent of HR abused her authority and discretion.  I believe that she wrongfully relied on the outcry manufactured from a number of vocal minority who do not assistance the agenda of the new the greater part faculty board members and our governor,” the e-mail explained.

Molenaar did not respond to a WGCU ask for for remark.

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