Welch receives $80,000 in retirement agreement
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Today is CCISD athletic director Jack Welch’s last day on the job for the Copperas Cove Independent School District after the board of trustees approved his resignation/retirement on Thursday.
The Copperas Cove Leader-Press received a copy of the 13-page “Notice of Retirement and Agreement of Resignation” between Welch and CCISD.
There are strong ties within the agreement to Welch’s ownership of the Bulldawg trademark and logo, with the agreement’s release and waiver specifically including a waiver of his rights under the Lanham Act as well as “any claim for trademark infringement under Texas common law.”
One plus for Welch, however, is before he receives his final CCISD paycheck on May 15, he will also receive a one-time, lump-sum payment today, May 1, in the amount of $80,000.
Welch owns the Bulldawg logo which has been used by the district on its athletic wear, advertising and more. The notice/agreement includes a copy of the trademark record, which shows that Welch filed for the Bulldawg trademark on June 28, 2001 and it was registered on Dec. 17, 2002.
With Welch’s departure from CCISD, thanks to the terms of the agreement, CCISD is licensed to use to use the Bulldawg logo for “advertising, merchandising, marketing, branding or any other activity within the District’s authority, without need for notice, prior review or approval” for the next 10 years, for “any and all purposes related to District educational or extracurricular programs.”
Where Welch’s resignation and retirement are concerned, both Welch and CCISD have agreed to be positive where the other is concerned, with Welch agreeing to not “denigrate, ridicule, or disparage” the reputation of the district, its current or former officers, trustees, employees, or agents” and the district also agreeing not to “denigrate, ridicule, or disparage” Welch. A letter of recommendation for Welch signed by Superintendent Joe Burns is also part of the agreement. Also, Welch will not receive a formal evaluation for the current 2017-2018 year. Instead, the evaluation for 2016-2017 will serve as his final evaluation with the district.
Talk about Welch’s status with the district began the week of April 16, with reports that Welch’s office was “cleaned out” and “locks changed.” On April 23, the district announced a special meeting of the CCISD board of trustees during which it held an executive session to discuss the terms of the agreement and emerged to vote to accept his resignation.