After a disastrous tenure dating back to 2017, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent, Matt Haas, Ed.D. has been asked to “resign” by the Albemarle County School Board.
The request was prompted by a public uproar over two recent events:
- The March 2 arrest of now former Woodbrook Elementary teacher, Nicholas Clark, on charges of possessing child pornography
- The June 3 arrest of Michael J. Swiney, Hollymead Elementary Social Emotional Learning Coach, on 11 counts of felony “sex crimes involving children.”
Passions and outrage boiled over during a June 10 “Community Conversation” at Hollymead. ACPS staff and School Board responses to parental inquiries were termed as defensive by some attendees, who were not placated by Haas’s presentation or subsequent Board/staff statements.
In a June 11 closed-session meeting, the School Board voted to request the Superintendent’s resignation, issuing a formal statement the following day:
Statement from the School Board
Jun 12 2026
The Albemarle County School Board has requested the resignation of Dr. Matthew Haas as Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools. The details of that transition are being worked through with the Board’s Chief Legal Officer and Dr. Haas.
This is a difficult moment for our school division and for our community. Our first responsibility is, and must always be, the safety, well-being, and trust of our students, families, staff, and schools. We recognize the pain, anger, fear, and frustration that many members of our community are experiencing, particularly in connection with recent events involving Hollymead and Woodbrook Elementary Schools.
Because this matter involves personnel considerations, the Board will not discuss confidential employment or human resources matters. However, we want to be clear that the Board is committed to transparency where it is appropriate, accountability where it is required, and continued communication with the public as we move forward.
The Board is taking immediate steps to ensure stable leadership for Albemarle County Public Schools. An interim superintendent will be announced as soon as that process is complete. During this transition, our schools will continue to serve students and families, and division staff will remain focused on supporting students, educators, and school communities.
We also recognize that words alone are not enough. The Board is committed to reviewing the concerns that have been raised, listening to families and staff, and ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to strengthen student safety, communication, and public trust.
We are grateful to the educators, school staff, families, and community members who continue to support our students during this challenging time. We know trust must be earned through action, and we are committed to doing that work.
According to reliable sources, the vote was unanimous among attending Board members. Rivanna District Board representative, Kate Acuff, avoided the closed meeting—and thus the responsibility to cast a vote on-record.
While many have asked whether Haas will be given a “golden parachute,” the Board’s message, when read in conjunction with Haas’s employment contract indicates that may be the case.
Here is the key language:
The Albemarle County School Board has requested the resignation of Dr. Matthew Haas as Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools [emphasis added].
Section 13 of Haas’s initial employment contract, dated October 4, 2017, (and signed by Acuff) states that if Haas resigns “in lieu of threatened termination,” the exiting Superintendent could continue to receive salary and benefits for up to ten months:
…If the Board terminates this Agreement not for cause during its term, or if Superintendent resigns in lieu of a threatened termination, the Board shall pay for the continuation of all compensation and benefits (except travel allowance and reimbursements for expenses occurring after the separation) for the current month in which the separation occurs and for up to an additional ten (10) months, or until the effective date that the Superintendent accepts other employment in a comparable position, whichever occurs first, payable in installments as provided for County employees’ salaries.
In response to a Schilling Show inquiry seeking clarification of Haas’s employment/resignation status, ACPS spokesman, Jason Grant, could not provide a definitive answer:
The Board stated they have asked for his resignation and authorized the Chief Legal Officer to negotiate that, but I am not sure if there is an agreement in place.
In a related development, the Albemarle County School Board announced today that Hollymead Principal, Joe McCauley, “…has been placed on administrative leave while the division reviews allegations that have been brought forward.”
