Green River College has paid former president Eileen Ely more than $286,000 as a part of a resignation agreement.
Ely, who had been at the helm of the college since 2010, stepped down on June 16. Her resignation came after months of growing unrest at Green River, amplified by the recent announcement of proposed cuts of 11 programs to close a $4.5 million budget gap.
Faculty at the college had asked Ely to step down over the possible cuts and what faculty said was Ely’s lack of leadership and her failure to consider staff input at the institution.
Ely notified Pete Lewis, chair of Green River’s Board of Trustees, Assistant Attorney General John Clark, who serves as the board’s legal counsel, and Carmen Schmitz, Ely’s secretary, by email at 12:30 p.m. on June 16 with her intention to resign.
The board unanimously accepted her resignation at its meeting later that afternoon and appointed Shirley Bean, Green River’s vice president for business administration, and Marshall Sampson, vice president of human resources and legal affairs, to share the duties of acting president, until an interim president is appointed to serve. The college is conducting a nationwide search for Ely’s replacement.
According to the three-page resignation and release agreement signed by Ely and Lewis on June 16, the college agreed to pay Ely a one-time payment of $206,000 – the equivalent of her annual salary – on June 24. Ely had one year remaining on her contract.
By signing the agreement, Ely released and waived her right to claims against the college. Neither Ely’s email nor the agreement gives a reason for her resignation.
Green River will also pay Ely $80,905 for 748 hours of accrued vacation leave and deposit the value of her sick leave into the Voluntary Employee’s Beneficiary Association account for future medical expenses.
Ely earned 20 hours of vacation each month, or 240 hours year, with no cap on carry over.
The resignation agreement also states, “Trustee Linda Cowan will provide Dr. Ely with a written Letter of recommendation.”
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