FIRST ON 3: Former CFCC president asks for job back, accuses chair of lying

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Former CFCC President Ted Spring wants his job back and accused the school’s Board of Trustees chair of lying to get him to quit.

In a letter dated today to CFCC Board of Trustees Chair Jason Harris, Spring’s attorney Gary Shipman says that in a Jan. 22 closed session, Harris told Spring trustees planned not to renew his contract when it expired in November and that the board was offering Spring the chance to resign instead. The letter claims that Harris said if Spring did not resign, which he did, Spring would be fired in open session and that the only explanation Spring was given was that he did not do what he was asked to do.

Shipman says in the letter that under his employment agreement, Spring was guaranteed an annual evaluation each spring and 60 days’ notice for termination for cause. The agreement also affords Spring due process, including a written notice and appeal rights. Shipman argues that given that fact, Harris lied about firing Spring that night, because the board could not do that legally.

Shipman writes that his letter serves as “Notice of Rescission” of Spring resignation, because it was obtained by “misrepresentation and/or deception” by Harris and the Board of Trustees. Spring is asking for his immediate reinstatement pending further proceedings.

“This notice is being provided to you without prejudice to any other remedies which Dr. Spring reserves as against all involved,” Shipman wrote. “We trust that the Board will do the right thing, and attempt to avoid the litigation that will follow, with the resultant embarrassment, both personally and professionally, to all involved.”

When reached by phone this afternoon, Harris said he had no comment.

The letter also reveals more details of what happened during the closed session. It says Spring was ordered to leave to start working on his resignation, but then he was called back. At that point, Shipman writes, the board offered Spring six months severance pay, a “neutral recommendation” and a confidentiality/non-disparagement agreement for both sides. But in early February, the letter says, Harris and Spring met at a law office, where Spring was given a “Resignation and Release” document,” which he claims included provisions different from what was discussed in January. That included a stipulation that the board could deduct from Spring’s severance “the amount by which the independent auditor in published findings determines to be in excess of the reasonable amount to which Spring was due under the Employment Agreement and applicable law,” and a non-disparagement clause that applied only to Spring and not the board of college. Changes were made, and on Feb. 20, Spring accepted the amended agreement.

On that same day, Shipman says in the letter, CFCC trustee Louis Burney asked District Attorney Ben David top have the State Bureau of Investigation conduct an investigation of Spring based on allegations from an employee. Shipman when he questioned Burney’s actions based on the non-disparagement agreement, he was told that the board considered the agreement Spring accepted as a counter-offer, and that the severance offer made to Spring in January was withdrawn.

Burney did not immediately return a call for comment this afternoon.