Brevard Public Schools Board Chair Matt Susin Details Actions Against Interim Superintendent Robert Schiller

Brevard Public School Board voted unanimously to place interim BPS Superintendent Robert Schiller on administrative leave

WATCH: The Brevard Public School Board voted unanimously to place interim BPS Superintendent Robert Schiller on administrative leave during the board’s Tuesday night meeting in Viera. Susan Hann, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Services at Brevard Public Schools, was appointed acting BPS Superintendent.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard Public School Board voted unanimously to place interim BPS Superintendent Robert Schiller on administrative leave during the board’s Tuesday night meeting in Viera.

Brevard Public Schools Board Chair Matt Susin made a motion to place Schiller on leave, and BPS District 1 Board Member Megan Wright seconded the motion. The remaining BPS Board members, including Gene Trent, Katye Campbell, and Jennifer Jenkins, made it unanimous to can Schiller.

Susin then made a motion to appoint Susan Hann, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Services at Brevard Public Schools, as acting BPS Superintendent. Campbell seconded the motion, which was then passed unanimously with another 5-0 vote.

Schiller, who has about 56 more days on his contract, issued a 12-page amended employee contract in which he demanded a higher salary and criticized the BPS board.

During Tuesday night’s Brevard Public Schools meeting in Viera, Board Chairman Matt Susin brought forward a series of documents that laid out actions by the interim Superintendent Robert Schiller.

Susin said these actions included inappropriate behaviors with staff, consistent re-negotiations for financial increases, trying to extend and take control of the superintendent selection process, a consulting contract that had not been paid, and undermining the board’s authority.

“These issues presented were directly affecting the effectiveness of the school district,” said Susin.

After laying out all of these items, Susin made a motion to put Schiller on administrative leave while all of the accusations and actions were investigated. The board voted unanimously 5-0 in support of his motion.

Documents presented by Susin at the board meeting showed Schiller was undermining the ongoing Superintendent selection process and wanted to be the one to choose the new incoming superintendent.

The documents show his request to extend the application process for six more months and be in charge of the selection of the new superintendent.

“Confirmed sources are now surfacing that he was working on trying to stay as the full-time superintendent,” said Susin. “Dr. Schiller had applied to be the superintendent in Palm Beach, Polk, Pinellas, Broward, and Martin counties.”

Board Vice Chair Megan Wright said she did not know how he could move forward as superintendent with these allegations and requested an explanation which Schiller did not provide.

Documents presented to the board also included requests by Schiller trying to negotiate extra items outside the original agreement, such as extra sick days to cash out at the end of the contract, studies he offered to do on various departments for a fee while superintendent, the former superintendence performance pay, three times the amount given for healthcare, and a host of other financial increases that were not approved in the original signed contract.

All of these demands were rejected by Susin, who had brought them to the board to review for their direction.

According to Susin and other board members, a series of accusations had come forward in recent days that needed to be investigated in relation to Schiller’s treatment of personnel, actions taken without board approval, and a host of other issues.

“Sources have confirmed that there were conditions such as hostile work environments that were creating gridlock among senior staff to be able to adequately serve the students,” said Susin.

School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins said during the board meeting on January 9 she had brought concerns forward about the behavior of Schiller in relation to a financial contract and actions related to staff. This was in reference to a consulting contract Schiller had engaged with and then stopped after the consultant had already engaged for multiple days.

“E-mails are surfacing that show the consultant had not been paid and is currently requesting payment,” said Susin.

Confirmed sources have indicated that Schiller did not indicate on his application with BPS that he had been fired from Martin County schools as an employee for using work time and assets for personal business as the acting Chief Human Resources officer for two months.

“E-mails are now surfacing that Dr. Schiller had moved major departments without board approval,” said Susin.

Items, such as transfers of budget, property, and job descriptions, that need board approval before moving forward.

“These items never came before the board for approval,” said Susin.

Susin said Schiller moved to place procurement under the chief financial officer, which had been taken away years ago because of a software debacle in which the CFO had utilized her powers over procurement to get an $8 million contract approved.

“The school board will make decisions on what is in the best interest of our children,” said Wright. “We are dedicated to ensuring our permanent superintendent vision aligns with that goal.”

Susin requested that all allegations and actions needed to be thoroughly investigated while Schiller is on administrative leave.

“I’m so proud of my board members last night for sticking in there as I laid out many of the issues that were surfacing and needed immediate action and leadership,” said Susin.

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