According to The Denver Post, Jefferson County Public Schools will pay former superintendent Cindy Stevenson over $200,000 to leave before the end of her contract.  The payout includes $68,500 for the remainder of her salary and $121,000 for unused benefits like vacation time.  In a ploy for faux-martyrdom, she claims that she would rather not take the money, according to The Denver Post.

“I would rather that the district not be paying me a separation agreement. The work was my passion, and I loved it, but the fact remains that these were the provisions in my contract.”

Right.  We’d turn our nose up at $200,000 for not working, too. Sarcasm.

If the work was her passion, and we’re not discounting her love of all things unions education, we have an idea for her.  Perhaps she should consider donating her $200,000 to a charity – a real charity, not a union cover group – that helps kids’ education.  Nationally, that could be Students First, run by Michelle Rhee, former D.C. schools superintendent.  In fact, Colorado doesn’t have its own Students First chapter, so maybe her donation could help start one?  If it’s really all for the kids and all.

Even Ms. Stevenson’s buddy, Lesley Dahlkemper wonders how the money could be used to benefit kids in The Denver Post article.

“I didn’t support the majority of the board pushing Dr. Stevenson out,” Dahlkemper said. “I didn’t think it was good for the district, and I didn’t think it was good for kids. We have a number of different budget options on the board, and it would be interesting to look at how we could have used those $200,000 in a way that benefited children.”

Of course, with such a terrific golden parachute that softens her land at another six-figure gig, it’s hard to believe that she was forced out, isn’t it?  Sounds like her exit was a carefully-choreographed last hurrah to help her allies on the school board damage the new reform-minded board members.  But, we have answered Ms. Dahlkemper’s query – Ms. Stevenson could use her golden parachute to start a local chapter of Students First to benefit children.  Win-win solution, right?