Dr. Stephen Nacco: retirement from DACC is 'amicable'
Nov. 5—As Dr. Stephen Nacco returns from administrative leave to finish out his final days as President of Danville Area Community College — his last day will be Dec. 13, the end of the fall semester — he took part in an interview with the Commercial-News to discuss his parting thoughts before his departure from the college is an amicable one.
The college's Board of Trustees signed an agreement with Nacco for his "voluntary and irrevocable" retirement on Oct. 24, ending a months' long saga which began in August after Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. accused Nacco of using a racial slur in a heated disagreement between the two men after a Vermilion Advantage Executive Committee meeting on Aug. 8. Nacco was later placed on administrative leave while the college investigated the claim.
"The ending isn't what I had imagined, but overall, this is still a great college," Nacco said. "It's a wonderful Board of Trustees, the faculty and staff are just really committed to students. And we have amazing students at the college."
As he works to complete his final few days in his role as President, Nacco is focused on getting his proverbial ducks in a row when it comes to this new chapter of his life.
"I don't have a pension so I have meetings with the state university retirement system and Medicare meetings and stuff like that. So yeah, I'm looking into what retirement means," Nacco said.
Even so, Nacco said, he and his family have no intentions of leaving the community.
"My wife, Cindy, and I have really enjoyed our time here. And we would like to stay. We're going to figure out how to remain in the community and continue to enjoy the benefits of living here... the quality of life here is good. It's the best place we've ever lived," Nacco said.
The Commercial-News obtained a copy of the retirement agreement signed by Nacco and DACC's Board of Trustees via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which was filed Oct. 28 and fulfilled Friday.
Per the agreement, upon completing his final day on Dec. 13, Nacco will receive 20 weeks of pay — $75,089.61 of the $195,233 annual salary his contract stipulated.
Until then, Nacco will work just two days a week in office and three days a week remotely, focusing on "special projects" such a grant writing and a review of Board policies, continued reports for the Board of Trustees, as well as complete any work assigned to him by the College Provost and Interim President, Dr. Bridges, which "both deem necessary for the efficient operation of the college."
During this interim period, Nacco will not represent DACC at any official or community functions, including Vermilion Advantage meetings, Regional Office of Education meetings, and even performances of the Danville Symphony Orchestra. Nacco is also prohibited from any future employment with the Board of Trustees.
The agreement stipulates that Nacco and the members of Board of Trustees are prohibited from placing one another "in a negative light or in a disparaging manner," nor is Nacco or any of the trustees permitted to share the details of the agreement, aside from the legal responsibility the Board has to respond to a FOIA agreement.
The agreement — which is "not in any way to be construed or used as an admission of any wrongdoing or liability of any kind or nature" — also stipulates that Nacco and his "heirs, executors, agents, representatives, assigns, and successors" have given up their right to "initiate or voluntarily participate in any suit... against any of the released parties related to the past events."
This is no problem for Nacco, who says he has no interest in filing such a suit.
"I had no intention of doing that anyway. Why would I file a suit against the college I love?" Nacco said.
The same night the Board of Trustees announced Dr. Nacco's retirement, David Harby, Chairman of the Board, also announced his own retirement, citing medical issues — something Dr. Nacco lamented.
"He was a great chairman," Nacco said of Harby. "He did wonderful work for 25 years. As a board member, he's definitely going to be missed."
Harby was first elected to the DACC Board of Trustees in 1999, then selected to be Vice Chair in 2005. He served as Board Chair since 2014 until his retirement, which was effective Oct. 25.
The college announced Friday that there would be a special meeting of the Board of Trustees at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss a number of issues, namely the appointment of a new Board Chair and Vice Board Vice Chair — a seat currently held by Greg Wolfe, whose term ends in 2025. The Board is seeking to fill three seats in April 2025.
