Lark resigns as DCSD superintendent

By Kathryn Reed

Douglas County School District needs a superintendent.

Just months after the board extended her contract, Carol Lark, tendered her resignation at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Carol Lark

Neither Lark nor board President Cindy Trigg was available for comment Tuesday night. In recognition of Veterans Day, district offices are closed today so comments may be days away.

The board unanimously accepted Lark’s resignation, agreeing to pay her $135,000 plus $17,500 in vacation in January pursuant to her agreeing not to the sue the district.

The agenda for the meeting in Minden said, “The Board will discuss and may take action regarding the terms of a potential agreement with Superintendent Lark relating to her possible voluntary separation from employment with the District and the termination of her employment contract.”

The district is expected to figure out a plan this month for a temporary replacement for Lark, with a permanent hire not likely to be on board for months.

Lark, 64, has not been liked at the lake by parents who continually questioned her leadership and perceived lack of understanding of the differences between the lake and valley.

Her handling of the radon issue at Zephyr Cove Elementary was one of many issues parents took issue with since she was hired in 2006.

Lark inherited a district with consistent declining enrollment. She came on board with the decision to close Kingsbury Middle School already made – though the issue was still a heated battle in her first year. Like most districts in the country, budget cutbacks were the norm in her brief tenure.

Lark’s contract was to have expired in July 2011. That agreement was hard fought by the seven-member board which has often been at odds with Lark. At many board meetings, Lark seldom spoke — an uncommon occurrence by a person running a school district.

Before coming to the district that straddles Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley, Lark spent two years as assistant regional assistant superintendent of Clark County School District in Las Vegas overseeing 27 schools; immediately preceding her move north she spent a few months as acting regional superintendent in charge of 61 schools.