Former Neosho R-5 Assistant Superintendent Richie Fretwell, who is being paid by the district for doing nothing, has landed a new job.
Ozark School District hired Fretwell as executive director of operations, according to a district news release. He will start that job July 1.
That will be one day after his time at Neosho officially ends.
Fretwell submitted his resignation September 11 after working out an agreement with the district that was obtained by the Turner Report through a Sunshine Law request.
From the agreement:
"As of the effective date of this agreement through June 30, 2025, Mr. Fretwell will be a paid leave of absence from the District, will not be required to perform any additional responsibilities for the District and is not precluded from securing any form of other employment or independent contractor work, including any work for another school district, during his employment by the District."According to the agreement, Fretwell will receive the remainder of his $150,483 annual salary (he had been paid $25,080.50 of that when the agreement was signed). The district will pay into his retirement account and he will continue to receive insurance benefits.
Mr. Fretwell will also be compensated for 85 sick leave days in the total amount of $12,299.07 in a lump sum payment to be made no later than July 31, 2025.
Other provisions of the agreement include:
-Fretwell waives the right to take any actions or file any lawsuits against the district.
-The district releases Fretwell from any claim damages, claims or losses stemming from his employment.
-Fretwell will refrain from officiating any district events and activities through June 20, 2030.
-Neither side can say anything bad about the other. "It shall not be a violation of this provision for the parties to respond to any questions, comments or inquiries regarding Mr. Fretwell's separation from the district by stating: 'Mr. Fretwell/I resigned from the district on June 30, 2025 and we/I wish him/the District well in his/its future endeavors."
-Fretwell is prohibited from saying anything disparaging about current of former employees, administrators, board members or anyone else with the district. This also applies to former board members after they complete their terms.
Fretwell and district officials cannot discuss the terms of the agreement. If Fretwell violates that part of the agreement, he can be fired, with the violation of the agreement being the only reason.
According to the closed session minutes of the R-5 Board of Education's August 19 meeting, the agreement was approved by a 6-1 vote with Dan Haskins, Jonathan Russell, Stuart Puckett, Kyle Swagerty, James Keezer and Jenny Spiva voting yes and Cody Crocker voting no.
Fretwell, who at one time was an assistant Neosho High School principal, returned to Neosho from Seneca when former Superintendent Jim Cummins brought him in as the assistant superintendent for operations in 2018. Fretwell, who served as high school principal under Cummins at Seneca, was one of Cummins' first hires.
Fretwell was one of two finalists for R-5 superintendent following Cummins' retirement.
The board opted to hire Jim Davis.
Fretwell was one of two finalists for R-5 superintendent following Cummins' retirement.
The board opted to hire Jim Davis.
21 comments:
He was and is a terrible referee and umpire who openly favored certain teams and coaches to decide the outcome of high school games. So his dismissal for questionable activities surprises nobody.
Sounds like maybe the district thought they could bully Mr Fretwell and kick him to the curb. When they realized he wasn’t going to go away quietly they had to pay him out. Also looked like he could be a stand up guy, if he is willing to sign an agreement to not talk disparaging about the district or board members.
Maybe Mr Turner needs to figure out what the heck is going on in that district. Wasn’t there a post last month about a bunch of directors and people resigning? I don’t understand how a district could be doing so well then have all these changes. If they weren’t doing well then maybe the board members up for reelection need to be voted out because they allowed it to happen.
He was the bully. When there are schools in the district that are in the bottom 5% statewide, something needs to change. Him and Cummins leaving were the best thing to happen. The others leaving were probably minions of theirs. Good riddance to the both of them!
Worked for the school district before Cummins and lord Farqua (fretwell) came and ruined it. Cummins hired old players(golfing buddies) as principals. His daughter was a joke of a head softball coach. Her assistant coach through the years kept the teams together and girls from quitting. Fretwill by far is the largest example of little man syndrome. Cummins and Fretwell ruined the district financially by draining the employee insurance fund from roughly 7 million to almost zero. Ozark is getting a little pile of shit.
Cummins and Fretwell leaving Neosho School District is the best thing that could’ve happened. Both bullies and absolutely worthless. When you have schools in the district that are in the bottom 5% statewide, some things need to change! As for the others who resigned, I’m guessing that their guys weren’t in charge anymore and didn’t like that they were dealing with new leadership. Ozark can have Fretwell. Good riddance!
He also declined to honor charitable contributions for fellow sports officials in our area.
The daughter has been known to bully and make fellow teachers cry.
I'll take things that never happened for $1000 Alex.
Lord Farquaad 😂
It’s time to vote the school board out of office that voted on giving the man tax payers money for doing nothing same on you all for voting for this thanks for one board member who voted against it.
It’s funny that you think one official and umpire can decide the outcome of either sport. No one person can determine the outcome of a sporting event. Just because he got along with different coaches doesn’t mean a thing. Did you ever thing that maybe the reason he got along with certain coaches was because they didn’t whine or complain? Seriously think about it no one person working can determine the outcome. You may think he’s horrible and that’s your opinion, but don’t try to say he could determine the outcome just because he got along with different coaches.
Mr.Fretwell has always been one of the REAL ones. Praying Blessings be unto him on his new journey.
Pack your bags Richie !! I feel sorry for the school that hired you , they will see your true colors. Make sure you brush stuff under the rug like you did at our school district !! I’m sure you will be put on administrative leave there eventually and collect a check just like you did from the Neosho school district. Your a joke in my book !
Again, Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in all these Bureaucratic Government Agencies. How many TIMES, have School Districts Paid Out Large Amounts of Money - For Underperforming - Administrators - How many TIMES has Joplin done this same thing? This is what we are seeing across all Levels of Government Agencies - - We have to STOP this Over-Abundant Waste and Stop Paying People, Giving Millions / Billions of Dollars to these Government Agencies and Non-Profits that support (Trans Gender Operas in Columbia) - this is just Dumb and Outrageous.
Until these Government Agencies, including our Schools - Learn how to use our Taxpayers Money - We need to Stop Giving them Money to WASTE!!! The Funny thing is why is JOHN-Q-PUBLIC - Not Outraged over this Waste, Fraud, and Abuse - and especially the Teachers - who keep asking for Raises - and we Pay these Administrators - easily 4-Times the Average Annual Salary of a Teacher in Missouri - to continual Underperform at their Jobs.
Whoever these School Districts are using for their Attorneys (These Incompetent Legal Advisors - I CALL IDIOTS), need to Structure these Administrative Contracts so that these Administrators - Don't just get to walk away with a Pot Gold - when they Under Performed or Committe any type of Problems - - In the Private Sector - Their ASSES - Would be Fired - even if they had an Employee Contract - - You cannot let the Employee - WRITE THE CONTACT IN THEIR FAVOR - THIS IS JUST PLAIN STUPID - - Both Parties have to have Consideration to make a Fair and Equitable Contract - - Not that the Employee - Walks away with a Full Year Salary - having their Pension and Insurance Paid - THIS IS A WASTE OF OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS - - School Boards / School Administration - Hire Someone to Draft Employment Contracts that can withstand Legal Scrutiny - So Bad Performance is Not Rewarded - -
Davis really seems to be a stand up guy, but some things just never seem to change in this district. The people who resigned weren't doing their jobs and staff and students stuffered because of it. In order to get a job in the district you have to know someone if you know what I mean. The district just had openings for administrators in the district, but they had already hand picked who they wanted. I just feel bad some of the hard working staff members who would be incredible administrators who are not even given a chance. I mean why even bother posting the jobs and pretending to conduct interviews when the choices were already in the bag. You will see what I am talking about in the next week when they announce who they choose.
727 WTH? The "Prolific Pontificating Paragraph Producer" strikes again of course!
Neosho school district looks like a trump run business......morally and financially bankrupt.
Remember when the "Neosho Elite" thought Cummins was the greatest thing since sliced bread?
Pepperidge Farms Remembers
8:31 Agree. Get rid of current board, starting with Russell and Puckett. Also, Oxendine would be a mistake to vote in next week.
Puckett is running. Why a no vote for Oxendine? She seems like a qualified, well rounded, eand ducated woman.
How did the PPPP find out my name?
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