BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Broward County School Board met Thursday to finalize negotiations regarding its mutual separation agreement with its general counsel Barbara Myrick.
Under the agreement, Myrick, who was arrested last month along with Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, will leave with 20 weeks of severance pay, totaling $226,349.87. The money includes accrued sick and vacation time, along with Myrick’s pension from the Florida retirement system.
“Mr. Runcie and I have worked tirelessly, and you all know that, to improve this district and to see that it continues to operate in a professional manner for the children,” Myrick told the board.
Myrick has worked for the school district for 21 years. Her last day as an employee will be June 30.
The School Board is expected to name Myrick’s replacement Tuesday and will continue to negotiate the separation agreement with Runcie.
Runcie may receive a $400,000 payout plus benefits. He is requesting 20 weeks of severance pay estimated at $137,000; 90 days as a paid employee; and a leave of absence with his accrued vacation and sick pay.
Debra Hixon, a countywide at-large School Board member, said she doesn’t want Runcie’s time as a paid employee to exceed 90 days.
“That would be the absolute maximum for me,” Hixon said. “I would like to see it done as soon as possible.”
Runcie and Myrick also want the district to pay for their legal defense, and that request was granted for Myrick on Thursday. But if found guilty, Myrick would have to reimburse the district.
Runcie and Myrick are both facing charges related to communication with witnesses in the pending public corruption case of a former BCPS employee.
School Board members voted to allow Rosalind Osgood, a school board member for District 5 and the board’s chair, to negotiate deals with Runcie and Myrick on behalf of the board.