Finalist for NK Superintendent’s Job Was Paid $240K to Leave Last Job
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Dr. Nicholas Wade, one of the three finalists for the North Kingstown School Department Superintendent’s job, was paid a substantial sum after he resigned from his last position.
This past May, Lexington County School District Two in South Carolina agreed to pay Wade -- its now former superintendent -- $240,000 in a "confidential" settlement over his still-unexplained resignation.
The North Kingstown school department has been in turmoil for more than a year due to what has been dubbed the “fat-test” controversy.
The backlash saw the resignation of the superintendent -- and sexual assault charges filed by the Rhode Island Attorney General's office against the high school's now former basketball coach.
South Carolina Departure
The "confidential settlement" document between the school department and Wade states, “For and in consideration of Dr. Wade’s willingness to compromise any dispute he has with the District regarding termination of the Employment Agreement, the Board, its members in both their official and individual or personal capacities and the District hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits, and discharges forever Dr. Wade from any and all claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown from the beginning of time to the date hereof...”
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“The parties agree to keep this agreement and the terms thereof confidential,” it states. “Dr. Wade and each member of the Board agree they will not make any negative or disparaging statements or remarks concerning each other to any third party.”
The document was published by Will Folks at "FitsNews"
It stipulates the breach of contract would result in a $20,000 penalty.
And, the settlement also requires Wade and school board members not to make any claims against one another — “any negative or disparaging statements.”
The agreement was signed in May. Wade self-describes himself in his Twitter bio as, "Proud parent of Lexington Two students, legendary husband and impressive father of two boys, and an avid film fan."
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In March of 2022, now former North Kingstown Superintendent Phil Auger resigned, as an investigation continued into who knew what — and when — about allegations of naked ‘fat tests’ being conducted by former boys’ basketball coach Aaron Thomas dating back to 2018.
In a copy of Auger’s resignation statement obtained by GoLocal, he said he believed he had “behaved appropriately” based on “what he knew at the time.”
In July 2022, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and North Kingstown Chief of Police Patrick Flanagan announced that Thomas was charged with child molestation and sexual assault.
Thomas was scheduled to be arraigned on August 19, 2022, in Washington County Superior Court. But that was delayed.
As alleged in the Criminal Information, the defendant, while employed at North Kingstown High School as a teacher and basketball coach, engaged in sexual contact with two victims. Count One alleges sexual contact with a person under 14 years of age, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-37-8.4 (second degree child molestation). It is alleged that the defendant engaged in sexual contact with this victim between September 1, 2000, and February 22, 2002.
Count Two alleges that the defendant engaged in sexual contact with a second victim by force or coercion or while engaging in the medical treatment of the victim for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-37-4 (second degree sexual assault). It is alleged that the defendant engaged in sexual contact with this victim between September 1, 2019, and February 22, 2020.
During the investigation, interviews were conducted with more than 30 former students who attended North Kingstown High School from the early 1990s through 2020, as well as teachers, coaches, administrators, and medical professionals.
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