Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Dr. Jim Hammen back on payroll
By Angie Anaya Borgedalen
After emerging from a closed meeting Thursday night, Aug. 28, the Liberty School Board announced that it had hired Dr. Jim Hammen as director of student services for $90,000 a year. He started his new duties Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Hammen, one of two top administrators placed on paid leave in April in the aftermath of a financial scandal that rocked the community, was formerly the executive director for human resources. He has worked for the Liberty School District for 20 years, 11 of those as principal of Lewis & Clark Elementary School.
Dr. Steve Fleming, assistant superintendent for human resources, remains on paid leave. Both Hammen’s and Fleming’s contracts expire in June 2009, according to Interim Superintendent Mike Brewer.
“Dr. Hammen is qualified to hold this position and has the right skill set to be successful in this job,” Brewer said in a press release. “We believe the board made the right decision both for the district and for Jim.”
Former Superintendent Phil Wright was forced to resign in April and was recently appointed as interim superintendent through June for the Crest Ridge School District in Centerview, Mo. Wright has threatened to file a federal lawsuit against the district for wrongful termination.
Retired Superintendent Scott Taveau, who also has been implicated in the alleged financial mismanagement, was recently sued by the Public School Retirement System for reportedly receiving retirement checks he was not entitled to. The school district is also named in that lawsuit.
Meanwhile, the state auditor’s office has launched a compliance and procedural audit of the school district’s finances and management practices. The school board is also in the process of seeking proposals to hire a consulting firm to search for a new superintendent. Brewer has expressed interest in keeping the job.
Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or aborgedalen@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
Hammen, one of two top administrators placed on paid leave in April in the aftermath of a financial scandal that rocked the community, was formerly the executive director for human resources. He has worked for the Liberty School District for 20 years, 11 of those as principal of Lewis & Clark Elementary School.
Dr. Steve Fleming, assistant superintendent for human resources, remains on paid leave. Both Hammen’s and Fleming’s contracts expire in June 2009, according to Interim Superintendent Mike Brewer.
“Dr. Hammen is qualified to hold this position and has the right skill set to be successful in this job,” Brewer said in a press release. “We believe the board made the right decision both for the district and for Jim.”
Former Superintendent Phil Wright was forced to resign in April and was recently appointed as interim superintendent through June for the Crest Ridge School District in Centerview, Mo. Wright has threatened to file a federal lawsuit against the district for wrongful termination.
Retired Superintendent Scott Taveau, who also has been implicated in the alleged financial mismanagement, was recently sued by the Public School Retirement System for reportedly receiving retirement checks he was not entitled to. The school district is also named in that lawsuit.
Meanwhile, the state auditor’s office has launched a compliance and procedural audit of the school district’s finances and management practices. The school board is also in the process of seeking proposals to hire a consulting firm to search for a new superintendent. Brewer has expressed interest in keeping the job.
Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or aborgedalen@npgco.com.
Comments on "Dr. Jim Hammen back on payroll"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Disappointed in LPS wrote on Sep 17, 2008 9:28 PM:
" Well...here is the rest of the story. Not only was a job "newly created" 90k job for Mr. Hammen, but a job was also offered to Mr. Fleming. Really...it's true. Fortunately Fleming declined.
Now we are informed by Mr. Brewer that we are in a pickle...people will lose jobs for sure. Programs serving our children will be cut. The new high school will likely remain empty for at least a year. Salaries will be frozen. Gee...the NEA announced that this "salary freeze" did NOT include Mr. Brewer himself. He received a 50k raise. Imagine that!!! Also, 2 other administrators also received raises (before the big "district wide freeze"). Coleen Jones now makes 30k more and Houston-Stewart got a 20k raise. Wow...how wonderful for them. Too bad para professionals and teachers will lose their jobs, instructional programs cut and class numbers will increase.
The hardest thing to accept is that while this is all going on and Mr. Brewer travels from school to school to deliver the news of impending doom, not mention of the administrator's raise, nor the fact that according to the LPS Board minutes, more than a dozen new support staff were hired. LPS logic. "
Now we are informed by Mr. Brewer that we are in a pickle...people will lose jobs for sure. Programs serving our children will be cut. The new high school will likely remain empty for at least a year. Salaries will be frozen. Gee...the NEA announced that this "salary freeze" did NOT include Mr. Brewer himself. He received a 50k raise. Imagine that!!! Also, 2 other administrators also received raises (before the big "district wide freeze"). Coleen Jones now makes 30k more and Houston-Stewart got a 20k raise. Wow...how wonderful for them. Too bad para professionals and teachers will lose their jobs, instructional programs cut and class numbers will increase.
The hardest thing to accept is that while this is all going on and Mr. Brewer travels from school to school to deliver the news of impending doom, not mention of the administrator's raise, nor the fact that according to the LPS Board minutes, more than a dozen new support staff were hired. LPS logic. "
Disgusted wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:46 PM:
" Where was this job posted???, certainly not under Work for LPS on the website! "
Whats it all about wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:06 PM:
" First of all I don't know Mr. Hammen and I have not seen what he was suspended for.
BUT! I have seen what the board members have done (they have repaid some expenses so I take it that the allegations are true) and one way or another the Hammen situation was handled badly.
Putting him on five months paid vacation and then rehiring him is beyond understanding.
If they did not have proof of wrongdoing they should not have suspended him, if they did find wrongdoing then they should have terminated him.
I assume they have done nothing in Hammen's, Taveau's, or Wright's cases without legal consultation.
So what does this say for the board and their lawyer(s)? "
BUT! I have seen what the board members have done (they have repaid some expenses so I take it that the allegations are true) and one way or another the Hammen situation was handled badly.
Putting him on five months paid vacation and then rehiring him is beyond understanding.
If they did not have proof of wrongdoing they should not have suspended him, if they did find wrongdoing then they should have terminated him.
I assume they have done nothing in Hammen's, Taveau's, or Wright's cases without legal consultation.
So what does this say for the board and their lawyer(s)? "
Liberty tax payer for NOW wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:11 PM:
" You Think???? "
bill wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:21 PM:
" Why is there no criminal charges being filed. Wouldn't this be considered embezzlement. "
seriously wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:01 PM:
" As a veteran teacher, and one who worked under Hammen's regime, I have never been treated more poorly. Not only was he pompous and unprofessional, he made sure he played no one's rules but his own. I am saddened by this turn of events by the school board. The district continues to make poor decisions and hopes that the community will support these liars and cheaters. Does anyone ever think about the students and what is best for student learning in this district? "
Concerned Parent wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:37 AM:
" Jim may be a great guy to some, but I still don't see why the Board hired him back after all of this. This shows that you can steal from the tax payers and still get your job back with a summer vacation. This sets a bad example for our children when our school leaders don't lead. Questioning your superiors when you are asked to charge alcohol to tax payers credit cards is a question of ethics, not status Que. "
Observer wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:38 AM:
" It seems like all of the school board and the school administration now embraces Jim Hammen. I am sure he likewise embraces them - where else can you get a 5-month paid vacation to the tune of over $50,000. You rock, Jim. "
wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:30 PM:
" Congrats Jim...The district missed you!!!! "
Liberty school board wrote on Sep 4, 2008 5:15 PM:
" I think someone should begin examining the school board a little closer!! They appear to be pulling all the strings to get what THEY want in this district!! "