MARYSVILLE—Ousted Marysville School District Superintendent Dr. Zachary Robbins, who was front-and-center in an ongoing district financial crisis will be receiving a posh severance package valued at least $428,950 plus benefits, according to records obtained by the Lynnwood Times.
A full room of approximately 100 parents and staff cheered the Marysville School District Board of Directors’ unanimous decision on October 3 to sever ties with Superintendent Robbins and confirm Dr. David Burgess as the district’s interim superintendent. The details of the severance agreement were not disclosed at the meeting.
The district did share that evening that a “no fault” and “amicable severance agreement” was reached, and that Dr. Robbins agreed to “waive his full contract payout” but there was some ambiguity surrounding a partial payout as his current contract expired in June 2027.
According to the Separation and Severance Agreement between Dr. Robbins and the Marysville School District, he is to receive the following effective October 3, 2024, through October 31, 2025 (Severance Period):
- Monthly severance payments of $29,150 for 13 months totaling $378,950
- By November 15, 2024, a lump sum payment of $50,000 for moving expenses, job search travel and lodging expenses, attorney fees, and expenses securing a new house
- Cash payout of unused accrued sick and vacation leave at $1,526.36 per diem
- Continuation of existing health, dental, and vision insurance for Dr. Robbins and his family until the end of October 31, 2025
Because Dr. Robbins has until October 8, 2024, to revoke the severance agreement in writing for whatever reason, this may address questions surrounding why the district did not immediately disclose the agreement’s details.
The agreement states that Dr. Robbins had 21 days from the time he was “first presented with the Agreement to consider whether to accept it.” The agreement was signed by Dr. Robbins on October 2, 2024, and approved unanimously by the Marysville School District Board the next day on October 3.
“The agreement between the District and Dr. Robbins was reached through mutual consent and in consultation with legal counsel,” Jodi Runyon, spokesperson for the Marysville School District wrote in an email to the Lynnwood Times. “The Marysville School District is committed to a smooth transition and wishes Dr. Robbins well in his future endeavors.”
According to the Preamble of the severance agreement, the district recognized that it was facing “financial problems that pre-date Dr. Robbins’ tenure as Superintendent” and that if Dr. Robbins were terminated without “cause” he would be entitled to a payout of the “full balance of his contract” through June 30, 2027, which “would be significantly more” than the currently agreed severance package.
“The Parties wish to move forward in different directions and mutually agree that a change in leadership is in the best interest of the District,” the severance agreement states.
In 2021 after then-Superintendent Jason Thompson resigned, he received a settlement of 9 months of his $21,629.85 monthly pay—$194,668.65— despite him already being absent four months prior to his separation agreement. The district was also employing then-interim Superintendent Chris Pearson.
OSPI appointed Special Administrator Dr. Arthur Jarvis in September 2024, which State Superintendent Chris Reykdal described as a necessary but “unprecedented step” in the OSPI financial oversight process following a damning audit report of the Marysville School District in August.
“I have lost confidence that the district has the decision-making tools or current personnel necessary to fix its financial situation on their own,” Reykdal wrote in an August letter to the district and Superintendent Robbins.
Dr. David Burgess will now be serving as interim superintendent until June 30, 2025, or until terminated with or without clause according to his employment contract. He will receive a monthly compensation of $24,418.33 plus benefits and perform the full duties of Superintendent.
Dr. Burgess is the former Superintendent of the Lake Stevens School District and joined the Marysville School District as interim Human Resource Director in June of 2024. He is a 19-year resident of Tulalip and has a career spanning 52 years in education, teaching students for 18 of those years.
At his confirmation on October 3, Burgess offered hope that with the community’s support, the district will overcome the “difficult choices” ahead.
“This is not about me, this about we, and if we don’t pull together, we’re condemned to finding ourselves in this situation over and over again; and it is not good for kids, and it is not good for any of us,” Burgess said.
