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Pretty sickening deal, isn’t it?

Continuing through June 2020:
* Monthly salary of $1,500 for his consulting work with the school district – even if he gets a new job during the time.
* Life insurance and full family insurance benefits
* District retirement contributions.

Also:
* Letter of recommendation from the school board
* Keeps Microsoft Surface and laptop, both of which were purchased by the district.

He must have done something really bad to deserve such a deal. ;>)

Barker was accused by opponents — which included the New Plymouth Education Association, the school district’s teacher’s union — for months of being a workplace bully who created a hostile environment for teachers who disagreed with his leadership style. Barker also had supporters attend school board meetings to advocate for him to remain superintendent.

In March, the school board met with supporters and objectors to talk about Barker’s leadership of the district. The board then released a statement in full support of Barker.

First Baptist Church Pastor Phil Pittman previously told the Idaho Statesman that the New Plymouth Community Cares group began forming Jan. 17, the day New Plymouth High School principal Clete Edmunson initially resigned from the school and students held a protest outside of the administration office. Edmunson said Barker pressured him to resign over a personnel matter, a claim Barker denies, and Edmunson later rescinded his resignation. Edmunson resigned again and is now the superintendent of the Council School District.

The New Plymouth Community Cares group, established in January when the controversy over Barker’s leadership first boiled over into the public sphere, started a movement to recall all five members of the district’s school board. That effort will now likely cease, according to the education association.