The superintendent caught in the crosshairs of a horrifying 1,188-count abuse scandal involving non-verbal special education students is walking away with $250,000 in taxpayer cash — and parents are furious.
Despite being demoted in November after the release of explosive text messages mocking students, staff, and local residents — Traysea Moresea will now resign in exchange for a $250,000 lump sum and a release of all liability.
Let that sink in.
Mocking Texts, Missing Oversight — Then a Golden Parachute?
The payout follows the fallout of disturbing texts uncovered in a civil lawsuit by parents of abused students. Moresea and then-board chair Mary Kay McGinnis-Ruark were caught in inflammatory conversations that surfaced just as the district faced lawsuits and criminal charges related to the abuse of five autistic, non-verbal children at McKell Elementary School.
While four former staff members face criminal prosecution for alleged acts of abuse including physical assault, illegal restraints, and unlawful imprisonment — Moresea’s punishment is… a quarter-million-dollar goodbye check.
“Let’s Just Move On,” Says Board
The Greenup County School Board voted 3-0 to accept Moresea’s “one-sentence offer” to resign for $250K, presented by her attorney just before Christmas.
“It says, ‘Please convey Mrs. Moresea’s offer to resign for $250,000,’” said district attorney Jimmy Lyon.
“We can close the book on that,” said Board Chair Matt Tussey.
But critics argue this is closing the book without reading the last chapter.
The board insists the payout is actually less than the value of her remaining 18-month contract, and stress that the sum won’t include retirement, unused sick days, or other bonuses. Still, parents say it’s a slap in the face.
Parents Still Waiting for Justice
Moresea, McGinnis-Ruark, and others are still named in a federal civil lawsuit filed by parents of the victims. Lawsuits claim systemic failure, lack of oversight, and a culture of cruelty allowed the abuse to continue unchecked.
Meanwhile, the criminal case against four former staff members is still pending, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 10.
Who’s Left on the Board?
The chaos doesn’t stop with Moresea’s exit. The scandal has triggered a revolving door of resignations:
- McGinnis-Ruark, Warnock, and Mosser already announced their resignations.
- Board members Mosser and Carl Cotton have vowed to step down after new members are sworn in, sticking around just long enough to maintain quorum.
Interviews to fill board vacancies are expected to begin Monday.
The Big Question:
How does someone presiding over a system accused of abusing disabled children walk away with $250,000 and no public apology?
Stay tuned. The outrage isn’t going away anytime soon.