Charles Lepper, recently resigned president of Grand Rapids Community College, could receive a full year’s salary, or $269,000, following his separation from GRCC.
The separation agreement between Lepper and the college, which was signed on March 31 by Lepper and Board Chairperson Brandy Lovelady Mitchell and obtained by The Collegiate through the Freedom of Information Act, states that “the board shall continue paying (Lepper’s) regular salary for a period of (12) months following the separation date… The board shall end payments upon the date in which (Lepper) begins full-time permanent employment with another entity.”
In addition to the potential continuation of his salary, Lepper will receive an additional $22,029.93 from accrued but unused vacation pay and sick time. Of the total amount, $21,629.93 comes from vacation pay, which was calculated at the rate of “(167.25 hours x hourly rate $269,000 / 2080).” The remaining $400 comes from $50 per accrued but unused sick days, which was calculated at the rate of “(64.00 hours / 8=8 days x $50.00).”
In addition to the $291,029.93 Lepper may walk away with, the college will be paying for 12 months of health insurance on his behalf in the form of a Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) premium waiver. According to the separation agreement, Lepper, his spouse and eligible dependents will continue to be covered. If Lepper begins a new job before the 12 months end, GRCC will stop insurance payments once he is covered through his new employer.
Prior to his resignation, Lepper was announced as the finalist for president of Madison Area Technical College. The Board of Trustees at MATC, however, selected Jennifer Berne as the successor to long-time President Jack Daniels III.
The agreement states that Lepper is largely unable to disclose the terms of his resignation with the exceptions being his spouse, accountant or financial adviser as needed for his tax returns and his attorney.
“It is not a breach of this provision for (Lepper) to state, if asked, that he left the college on amicable terms after the college learned that he was a finalist for another position,” the agreement stated.
If he were to break the agreement by disclosing the terms of his separation, the board would be entitled to “liquidate $1,000 for each breach.” Lepper also agreed that “under no circumstances” can he disclose “any negative or detrimental information relating to (GRCC and the board) and/or their services.” This includes communication through any media, including social media.
As a part of the separation agreement, Lepper has “fully and forever” released his right to sue GRCC. This includes, but is not limited to, “wrongful discharge… breach of express or implied contract… (or) retaliation,” in addition to many other potential claims. Additionally, both Lepper and the board have agreed not to “defame, disparage, criticize” or otherwise speak of the other in an unflattering manner.
Lisa Freiburger, Vice President of Finance and Administration, was appointed by the GRCC Board of Trustees to serve as the Interim President of GRCC until her retirement in May.
