On June 25, Karl Stein submitted, and the board accepted, his resignation as principal of the Chelsea Public School effective June 30, 2007. We also agreed on other issues, including a financial package for Karl, which guarantees him four months of compensation and will pay him up to an additional four months of compensation if he does not find suitable employment within that timeframe.

The full terms of the settlement agreement are public and available from the superintendent’s office.

Since the news of Karl’s resignation has become public, the reaction has been quite varied and a number of questions (and rumors) have been circulating throughout our community. We would like the community, in Chelsea and beyond, to know that this decision was made after considerable deliberation and in the best interest of the future of the school.

We believe it is important that the school and community now focus on the future, and continue to build upon the good work of the past five years. We are entering a time of transition and now, more than ever, we all need to direct our energies toward maintaining and improving the educational experience we offer the students at the Chelsea School.

In the past few weeks, Karl has felt the wonderful support of the Chelsea community; receiving gifts and visits from well wishers, many of whom have said thank you and even one student who came in to tell him that they named their rooster after him (What more could one ask for?)

Our joint hope is that the story will no longer be the one about what happened, but instead about what is to come for all of us; about how the Chelsea School community will move on, supporting our school and finding new ways to be a part of the school and ensure its success.

In the words of Terry Tempest Williams: "The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time."

Emily Marshia

Chris Byrne

Tracy Crocker

Kelly Lyford

Joe Spinella

Karl Stein