When the time came for Will Goodman to renege on taking a new job with state superintendent Sherri Ybarra, he did it via email.
Goodman turned down the job as Ybarra’s chief policy adviser on Aug. 2. Technically, he never even started the job; his first day would have been Sept. 17.
Goodman’s email, obtained by Idaho Education News, was brief. Here it is, in full:
“I wanted to talk to you today in person today, but I was not able to. I also tried to call and text, but they do not seem to be going through. I have had some private personal matters come up that will not allow me to take the job. This just happened. I know this burns a bridge and potentially hurts you and for that I am very sorry. I have an idea on how to announce it. Please call me if you would like to talk. Thank you for the offer, and sorry to turn it down after accepting and having it announced.”
The email doesn’t refer to Goodman’s career plans. When Ybarra’s State Department of Education announced the shakeup a day later, Goodman said he planned to stay at the Mountain Home School District as technology and operations director. “When I reviewed with the Mountain Home superintendent the next steps for our major technology projects, I realized it would be a mistake for me to leave at this critical time.” Goodman said in an Aug. 3 news release.
The email and subsequent announcement capped a turbulent nine days.
Goodman, Ybarra’s former chief technology officer, received a written offer on July 25, and the SDE announced his hire that day. Goodman formally accepted the $100,006-a-year job on July 30 — three days before reconsidering.
Ybarra, meanwhile, is still looking for a chief policy adviser, the department’s main liaison with legislators. Duncan Robb’s last day on the job is Friday.