This week, a Russell County Circuit Court Judge ordered the Phenix City Board of Education and superintendent Larry DiChiara into mediation talks with the intended goal of reaching a resolution over DiChiara’s contract.  Judge Albert Johnson made this decision during his second hearing on the case. 

Last November, the 7-member board voted to put DiChiara on administrative leave and to go for a buyout on the remaining 4 ½ years on his contract.  The sudden end to DiChiara’s run has yet to be explained by the board, especially since he was the recipient of the Alabama Superintedent of the Year Award just three years ago.  The process of buying out the remaining years in his contract could cost the school system upwards of $750,000. 

The current dispute is over what’s considered fair on benefits.  DiChiara has noted in the past that he and the board are not close in what they are bringing to the table, and he feels that the board is not offering him a fair settlement on benefits.  The board is seeking to have the case dismissed under Alabama immunity rules, but DiChiara’s attorney argued that Judge Johnson maintains jurisdiction since the lawsuit was originally filed against individual board members in their professional capacity.  The attorney also believes that case law shows precedence for the suit to be continued as filed.  Mediation talks are being scheduled in the hopes that the two parties can arrive at a fair benefit solution without any more time in court.