Then-Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight during an April 2023 press conference.
Former Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight will get $1.3 million in a separation agreement.
The Montgomery County Board of Education and McKnight mutually agreed to separate effective Feb. 2, which came after McKnight said school board officers wanted her to step away and that she was provided with no justification.
According to a separation agreement and general release between McKnight and the Board of Education, McKnight will be paid a total of $1.3 million to include agreed upon wages, attorney’s fees, deferred compensation and 403(b) payment.
It includes a mutual non-disparagement agreement, and McKnight agrees not to sue the school board. According to the separation agreement, McKnight’s child will be allowed to attend Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) even if they move out of school district boundaries.
McKnight signed the agreement Feb. 28 and School Board President Karla Silvestre signed it Feb. 29.
Currently, Dr. Monique Felder is interim superintendent. This month the school board announced it is launching a nationwide search for the next superintendent.
In a statement regarding the separation agreement, the Board of Education said, “The Montgomery County Board of Education is committed to the well-being and success of all students and staff. All decisions the Board makes are made in the best interest of our students and our school system. As stewards of education, we are committed to ensuring that the core purpose of teaching and learning, and ultimately student success, remains central to everything we do. It is imperative that anything that distracts from high-quality teaching and learning is minimized.”
The statement continues, “The Board has launched a national search for the next superintendent and has asked the community to participate in identifying the leadership characteristics essential in our next leader. We are actively planning for the future to ensure that our schools continue to thrive and meet the needs of our diverse community.”
