SOUTH BEND — South Bend School Board members served notice Monday night that talks are underway on a plan to buy out Superintendent Dr. Robert Zimmerman's contract. It was a decision some said was nearly a year in the making, but it didn't come without a heavy dose of controversy.

The 5-2 vote at Monday night's meeting clears the way for the School Board's attorney to begin negotiating a buyout on the remaining 16 months of Zimmerman's 3-year contract. Under that deal, Zimmerman is paid $145,000 per year.

But the agreement doesn't mean Zimmerman has been fired. In fact, he will report to work as usual on Tuesday, and says he hasn't committed to the board one way or another on whether he'll accept any buyout offer.

But the board's direction to open talks about a potential buyout does provide a clear indication that the two sides have agreed to explore a parting of ways, and report back to the board within two weeks.

As storm clouds began to roll in overhead during Monday's closed door meeting between the board and Zimmerman, a storm of controversy was also brewing.

Then, near the end of the board's regularly scheduled meeting, it hit.

SBCSC Board President Sheila Burgeron read the following statement:

"The school board has completed the evaluation of Dr. Zimmerman's performance from the period of October 1, 2007 through May 20, 2008. The evaluation was presented to Dr. Zimmerman on Thursday, May 29, and discussed with him at [Monday's] closed session of the board. It is the recommendation of the board that the board's legal counsel be authorized to negotiate a separation agreement with Dr. Zimmerman," she paused, waiting for a chorus of boos from the crowd to die down.

"A separation agreement to address his Superintendent's contract with the board and other necessary issues. It is expected that the separation agreement will be presented to the board at the meeting on June 16. I now make the recommendation in the form of a motion, and would ask for a second," she finished.

The second quickly came from board member Kim Barnbrook, and Burgeron called for a vote.

"All those in favor say aye," she said, before quickly backing up. "Oh -- any discussion? Sorry," she said.

There was.

The first, came from Board Member Bill Sniadecki, an outspoken supporter of Zimmerman's in the past.

"I don't agree with this decision I think we're about to make," he said. "I'll be voting 'no.'"

That announcement brought wild applause from the standing room only crowd of more than 100 people.

Earlier in the day, Sniadecki called the move "bad timing," and said, while he didn't agree with everything Zimmerman had done, he felt Zimmerman never got a chance to succeed.

"There's no reasoning behind it," he said. "It probably would cost more than a quarter million dollars -- maybe more. We're in bargaining with 5 different groups. I mean, if we disagreed with what superintendents did in the past, we'd be changing superintendents like most people change their underwear."

Next up to speak before the vote was former Board President Dawn Jones.

"This whole entire process has made me just ill to my stomach," she said. "I agree with Mr. Sniadecki, and I'll also be voting 'no.'"

Afterward, she too defended Zimmerman's work.

"He's a good person and he has always had the children at heart," she said.

As for the claims that the two sides had reached an impasse?

"I hadn't reached that point," she said.

Turned out, they were the lone "nays."

Burgeron said the vote had to come.

"I think we want a superintendent that we can work with that works with the board," she said.

When asked if she felt she felt she didn't have that with Zimmerman, she replied "Maybe not to the best it could be."

Zimmerman's reaction was unclear, as he sat somewhat motionless, listening to it all unfold.

"It's disappointing," he said after the meeting. "I came here two years ago to work for the community and to serve the kids. And my greatest concern is still for the school system and the kids."

During an exclusive interview with WSBT last week, Zimmerman said he would be willing to accept a buyout if he thinks it's in the best interest of the corporation that he leaves.

He says the board made it clear to him during their closed door session Monday that they believe the corporation will move forward more effectively without Zimmerman at the helm.

He says the news didn't come as a complete shock.

"No, not really," he said, when asked if he was surprised about the announcement. "The overwhelming indication from the board, and the majority of the board, is that it may be time to separate."

But Sniadecki and Jones argued there was no basis in his evaluation for termination. Sniadecki went as far as to challenge Zimmerman to release the evaluation to the public.

"They'll see that there's no basis for this vote," he said.

Zimmerman said he is thinking about releasing the results, but said he doesn't want it to be a distraction from the corporation's mission of educating students. All he would say is that it contains some "very negative" comments, but also "very positive" ones.

Shortly after Sniadecki issued that challenge, the standing room only crowd of more than 100 people began lashing into the board about their decision.

"Maybe you ought to re-evaluate yourselves instead of re-evaluating him," said one parent.

"You are wasting our taxpayer's money," said a teacher.

"It's not fiscally responsible," agreed a taxpayer.

And the comments stretched on for more than 45 minutes, one after another, all with a nearly identical message.

"This board should have commended this man for advancing initiatives that were started," said National Educators' Association-South Bend President Carolyn Peterson, as she read an emotional letter to the board on behalf of her membership. "Shame on you!"

"I will remember you on Election Day," promised another speaker.

Four SBCSC Trustees are up for re-election in November.

When asked if she thought a buyout would be a waste of taxpayers' money, Burgeron replied: "I don't think it is. Because you need a superintendent that works with the board and works with the community. That affects all the programs, not just one or two."

Several speakers criticized the school board's recent decision to delay implementation of full-day kindergarten, citing its $133,000 cost.

Many estimate a buyout of Zimmerman's contract could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps even as high as $1 million.

And while Zimmerman says he will be disappointed if it all ends now, he hopes his short legacy will leave at least one thing behind.

"A recognition that the only way we're going to turn things around is when the entire community comes together," he said.

"We have no choice [but to do that]," agreed Jones. "We have to keep our children in mind, and fix whatever situation we have to fix."

Zimmerman told WSBT he hasn't discussed any financial figures with the board yet, and in the end, he says it won't come down to that. If he gets -- what he called -- "a fair and equitable settlement" he says he will strongly consider accepting the offer, and walking away for "the good of the district."

The South Bend Community School Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., then meet again in closed session to discuss Zimmerman's buyout and contract negotiations with teachers on Thursday night.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is June 16. Board members say they expect to vote on a final buyout package then.