I like @woody's idea: pay Garrow his "leave" out of board members pockets. And pay for the new one out of their pockets as well thus freeing up the monies needed to implement appropriate plans to alleviate the issues at Northside.

Maybe the board members should pay Garrow's wage out of their own wages.

"The rumors are definitely juicy. Tabloid fodder at best in a town long known for being a steady rumor mill."
.
Yes, abass80, it seems I heard the same juicy stuff...

Should not be paying 2 people for One position. Pay him to do his job, or pay someone else to fill in...? This is a "no brainer". One position, one job, only "One" should be paid.

"""pursue his dreams,""
lol it that what they call it now?"

I suppose get paid for 7-8 months and not work and get lucky.

Just stating that affairs are not legal.
Somebody said what he has done is legal. Affairs are not legal. Is this what he has done?

Why is the gazette deleteing the truth....We ALL are now finding out what the truth is and I expect people to actually start saying it aloud...we should not have to pay for anothes indiscressions....its wrong...and inappropriate just like Garrow

John- we'd better see you on the ballot. Do as I say, not as I do? That wouldn't be you, would it?

"Cruzan said board members were impressed with Garrow's management style and his rapport with staff. Cruzan called Garrow "gregarious and confident" and "an outstanding personality for a leadership role.""
lol

"A former physical education and health teacher at Clintonville, Garrow later worked as dean of students, athletic director and a teacher at a middle school in Jefferson. He has worked 15 years in public schools and has been in Mount Horeb for seven years."

A Michael Garrow was divorced from a Shannon in 2002 in Jefferson. Humm...

So you CAN have your cake and eat it too. The wife, the money, etc...

Finally people seem to be catching on to the fact that this extended leave has nothing to do with the death of Garrow's father. As for whether the most repeated rumor, if true (and the evidence certainly points that way), can/should lead to the outright dismissal of Garrow and another district employee, I don't see how it's grounds for firing. Inappropriate and immoral? Maybe. But certainly not illegal, or even against school district rules. My guess is the district recognizes this—after all, there are board members with HR experience—and is simply letting Garrow's contract run out and not renewing it. It's paying him to go away when he wouldn't have had the confidence of staff had he stayed. If Garrow had an integrity he'd just resign, but I expect he'll be needing the extra money for what one can only assume will be his personal legal battle ahead. Personally, I don't care how Garrow spends his free time—or with whom—but the board should be better prepared with its next superintendent contract and willing to include a clause allowing for dismissal for any conduct detrimental to the district, or at least unpaid leave. That the rest of us are paying for Garrow's dalliance-related extended vacation is really my only gripe.

The official comments from the newly self appointed PR guy, Rob Roy, is no comment other than they *may* reveal next week as to what is going on pending revelation of such is approved by their legal eagle. So we *might* know more once they figure out the most friendly way to tell the taxpayers and concerned parents what we already know which is that we now get to pay for two superintendents.

Is there an investigation going on either with police or internally at school? I haven't heard any rumors, but this whole "mess" sounded suspicious even before hearing that Garrow is getting paid. I am a Milton School District taxpayer.

If I believed the most repeated rumor then Garrow wouldn't be on leave - he and another district employee would be fired.
The rumors are definitely juicy. Tabloid fodder at best in a town long known for being a steady rumor mill. We could call Milton by "Peyton Place" and locals would still know we were discussing Milton.
And yes @iamnobetterthanyou: I agree to your synopsis of "The Milton Way". That sums it up pretty well. Write a check and shut 'em up.

This will echo both Stubby and abass80.

It is COMPLETELY excessive to pay him for so long. There must be a reason why the board would agree to that.

People have been so quick to assign blame and condemn this man. That blame based mostly on gossip and rumors. None of which have been proven but gosh they sure have been juicy, haven't they?

If Dr. Garrow did something bad they would fire him. These days something bad does not even have to happen, just as long as enough people THINK that it did. Granting him so much paid leave might be directly proportional to how big of a broom the board needs to sweep something under the rug.

"The Milton Way" : Saving face in light of unpleasant circumstances.

I still hold a no confidence vote for eyester as an educator!

Well said Stubby.
Now we can add "Guilty in the court of Blogs" to the exercises you get when jumping to conclusions.

John - I am a little concerned about the "rush to judgement" on your (and honestly many others') part when it comes to Dr. Garrow and the Milton Board. As you noted, there will be a further disclosure when such disclosure is legally permitted. It is very likely that the Board was not simply being obsequious, but really had its hands tied by laws that regulate the relationship between an employer and an employee. These laws prevent disclosure on ongoing disciplinary investigations. They prevent disclosure on medical and FMLA related issues. These laws exist to protect the employee from trial in the media or from unwarranted scrutiny in personal matters. So the lack of disclosure that you are so concerned about may have simply been the Board obeying the law. I, for one, will wait to see the evidence before calling for anyone's head.

---

As for the leave being paid....again I need to see more evidence. It does seem excessive to pay Dr. Garrow for 8 months of no work - especially in a district that is struggling with class sizes. It would take some pretty compelling evidence for me to think this was the best choice, but without knowing what the options were, I can't make that decision, and, frankly, neither should you. I applaud the work of the Gazette and the Milton Courier to get the facts to the public. Now let's see those facts before throwing around any condemnation.

The "truth" from the Milton School Board will be their facade saving truth. Not the real truth. They have no interest in answering for anything and would rather make accomodations and pay people off to keep mum. Dirty. Dirty. Dirty. And if the incumbents expect a vote from me should they run again for office: think again. Board: your minimal acts of goodwill to make logical decisions magically after my nearly 18 months of pleading with you regarding transportation of my child (and coincidentally right as the Garrow issue was being exposed) is appreciated however don't count on my vote. I have too much knowledge of how the district works. Garrow is nothing more than a condemned figure head who operated like a marionette with Roy and the board acting as the string pullers. Is Garrow's paid leave ridiculous? Absolutely. But let's look at who wrote the contract and who made the decisions as to Garrow being paid to grieve and pursue his dreams for the next 8 months. The board. The board chose Garrow and the board made the contract. Gather all of this with Roy and gangs past inefficacy and...well...all the acts of goodwill and pacification won't save any of you now.

This is a perfect example of the "free stuff" you can get when you vote for Socialists.

After all, The poor guy just wants to "pursue his dreams". Sigh

Glad you agree about getting the truth, at least about some subjects and topics.