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Departing chancellor will continue to draw salary

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The Coast Community College District’s former chancellor could continue to collect his salary and health benefits for 10 months.

An agreement signed by Andrew Jones and board President Mary Hornbuckle states that Jones will continue to receive his $20,666 monthly salary for 10 months unless he secures another job in that time. The district will also continue to pay for his health benefits at an annual cost of about $48,000, according to district documents.

Jones announced his resignation Aug. 13 and left the top post at the district two days later.

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Jones said his rapid departure came with mixed emotions, but he declined to indicate a specific reason for his resignation. Trustees affirm that Jones made the decision without their input.

However, his departure didn’t completely come out of the blue.

“He had given us some indication that he would be resigning,” Hornbuckle said.

It was well known among district staff that the chancellor’s relationship with the board had been somewhat tense over the past year.

Last year, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges urged trustees to correct several practices that placed the district’s three colleges at risk of losing their educational credentials, including improving the way the board delegated tasks to the chancellor.

The board acknowledged in an October self-evaluation that it needed to improve communication with Jones.

Before joining the district in 2011, Jones was the vice chancellor of educational services for the Dallas Community College District, in Texas.

Jones’ attorney could not be reached for comment.

Hornbuckle said Coast doesn’t often enter into resignation agreements with employees, but that it’s not unheard of for the documents to be used at community college districts.

“This was a unique situation, and Dr. Jones’ resignation warranted some additional attention on the part of the board,” she said.

Jones’ resignation agreement also includes a non-disparagement clause, which aims to prevent either side from speaking negatively about the other. Comments that impugn the reputation of Jones or the district can result in a $25,000 fine, according to the agreement.

“Coast is an amazing place because of its dedicated professionals, and I am very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved during the past three years,” Jones wrote in an email to district staff.

Trustees have named Tom Harris interim chancellor. The former North Orange County Community College District chancellor begins this week.

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