Cherry Creek Schools will pay former Superintendent Christopher Smith nearly $164,000 in “contractually obligated compensation” for vacation and sick leave following his abrupt resignation from the school district at the end of January. Christopher Smith (Photo courtesy Cherry Creek Schools) The district’s Board of Education on Friday announced Smith will be paid $163,927, including $119,857 in accrued sick leave and $44,070 in vacation leave, in accordance with “contractual formulas” and in line with his job contract. The sum does not include any additional severance “beyond contractual obligations,” district officials said in a statement. “While personnel matters remain confidential under state law, the final compensation issued was not discretionary or negotiated beyond the terms already in place,” district officials said. Smith submitted his resignation in a closed-door meeting with the school board on Jan. 27, weeks after a Denver7 report detailed employee concerns about the school district’s “toxic culture.” Related Articles Cherry Creek Schools’ superintendent search won’t start until summer, board president says Cherry Creek Schools places second top administrator on leave over misconduct allegations Cherry Creek Schools’ freeze on travel, contracts tied to ‘decisions and actions’ of former superintendent and his wife Cherry Creek Schools won’t elaborate on decision to freeze travel, contracts after superintendent resigns Cherry Creek Schools puts human resources director on leave after superintendent resigns District leaders put chief human resources officer Brenda Smith, who is Christopher Smith’s wife, on leave the following week, and soon after announced they would freeze employee travel and district contracts for “serious review.” Assistant Superintendent Tony Poole was also put on administrative leave, though district officials said that investigation is for allegations of insubordination and is unrelated to investigations into the Smiths. Board of Education members appointed Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Perry as the district’s interim superintendent and have said they will not begin searching for a new superintendent until after an external audit of the K-12 system, which will likely take until the summer. Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter. ...read more read less