Newspapers says Storey County Superintendent wants to be let go

Superintendent Dan Piel, who has been trying to salvage his job for months, has asked the school board to release him from his contract, a source told the Nevada Appeal.

A school district official, who asked to remain anonymous, told the newspaper that Piel's attorney mailed the letter to district officials within the last two weeks.

"The board did receive a letter requesting a release of contract and severance," the source said.

Piel declined to discuss any plans to depart from the school district.

"I have absolutely no comment," Piel said Friday.

Storey County School Board President Cynthia Waldow made a similar comment.

"This is a personnel issue and I'm not going to comment," Waldow said.

Piel indicated he wants to leave by the end of July at the latest.

In the past year, Piel has spent hours behind closed doors with his attorney, the school board and its legal counsel, discussing his performance and future with the school district.

His personal legal bills reportedly exceed $10,000.

Piel, who joined the school district in August 1990 as principal at Virginia City High School, earns $74,178 annual salary and his contract runs until June 30, 2000.

Piel's departure from the school district would add to a string of recent resignations.

In June, Karen Watson, the district's administrative specialist, left to take a similar job with Lyon County School District.

Watson, who joined Storey County School District in September 1996, declined to discuss why she left, referring any questions to her attorney Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy did not return phone calls.

Todd Cutler resigned as principal of Virginia City High School to become vice-principal at Fernley High School, which he starts on Aug. 2.

Last week, Ed Diederich was appointed to the board to replace Georgianne Houser, who resigned in May.

Houser was one of Piel's more vocal critics. She said he failed to follow board instructions and at times went against the board's wishes.

Houser said she resigned because if Piel was fired, she would have been blamed.

At a July 6 meeting, the board also considered replacing its legal counsel Charles Cockerill with Douglas Roman Hill. Hill is a regent with the University and Community College System.

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