The investigation into a memo about a former Eau Claire School Superintendent's contract continues.

The Eau Claire School Board met in closed session Friday night for five hours.

One day after a police investigation began, the School Board's investigation into what exactly happened with a memo in Dr. Bill Klaus' file began with a move to close the door.

Board members tell us the investigation revolves around a piece of paper Former Board President Carol Olson signed that would allow Former Superintendent Bill Klaus to receive stipend money this fall, before retirement. That’s earlier than the board agreed he would get them.

Friday the board spoke with Klaus to try and get to the bottom of the intent. Board members say the document was signed last summer and backdated to February. They say the board didn't hear about it until October and even now they say it deserves a lot of attention.

“Because of the sensitive nature and so many individuals are involved, we don’t want to step over the edge in terms of disclosing information that would be damaging to a career. But we also want to make sure that we way the public’s right to know and the public’s interest,”said board member Carol Craig.

Klaus came to the closed door meeting with his lawyer, board members say carol olson did not show up. And even after hours of discussion, the board decided it needs more answers.

The board will meet again Tuesday.

Board members say Klaus has never received any payments from his $225,000 stipend.

Klaus is the principal at Northstar Middle School in Eau Claire. Carol Olson is not on the school board any more.

Eau Claire police and the county's district attorney's office are investigating the case as well.

Earlier Script:

A piece of paper has sparked a police and school board investigation in Eau Claire.

Board members tell us they will investigate whether the former Eau Claire school superintendent Bill Klaus and the former school board president Carol Olson did something wrong by creating a document that may have allowed Klaus to get retirement stipends earlier than the board intended. Eau Claire School Board member Ken Faanes says no payments were ever made. He says former board president Carol Olson approved it, but the board is trying to weed through whether it was a clerical mistake or something else.

Faanes says the issue of earlier stipend payments came up in October, the board took action and changed it back to receiving payments at 55.
The board clarified he would not see that money until he retired.
It was a retirement stipend worth $225,000 over five years.
Faanes says the board has not talked to Carol Olson, but said she approved the memo in question.

Board member Brent Wogahn says says the board welcomes a police investigation and says this has been a distraction from important issues, like strategic planning. He says the board hopes to interview Dr. Klaus and any other administrators it needs to in order to get answers. He says the board will have to look at its policies to see what, if any action, it can or may want to take.

Wogahn says he thinks the system worked like it was supposed to, because no district dollars were wasted. Now he just wants to figure out exactly when the document in Klaus' file was signed, and what the intent was behind it. Basically, who knew what and when. He says no one board member can ever sign anything without a second signature on it in the first place.

Wogahn did add, that the board's trust has been shaken and the members need to get that trust back. He says the board has so much to do, that he wishes the members didn't have to get sidetracked on this, but that the members want to do what's right and what's in the public interest.

Thursday the Eau Claire County District Attorney Rich White says a member of the public asked him to investigate. Per policy, he forwarded that request to the police department.

Klaus is still the Northstar Middle School principal. Olson is no longer on the board. The board will meet behind closed doors Friday at 2:30 p.m. to investigation and determine if it wants to take action. We will be there and have the latest on NewsCenter 13 at 5, 6 and 10.