Robert P. McElliott, the Hoquiam Middle School physical education teacher on paid administrative leave since Nov. 6 and charged in Hoquiam Municipal Court, accused of writing threats against himself on a school gym door, will be paid by the Hoquiam School District through April 25, according to an agreement between McElliott, represented by the teachers union, and the Hoquiam School District.

“McElliott will remain in paid administrative leave status through March 31, 2019, and in sick leave status thereafter until the effective date of his resignation,” read the agreement, dated Feb. 8, and signed by Superintendent Mike Villarreal and McElliott.

At an annual salary of $83,187 at the time he was placed on paid administrative leave, McElliott will collect around $39,000 from the school district for the time between his placement on paid administrative leave and his official resignation date of April 25.

The agreement also states “the district will continue to provide for its contribution to McElliott’s current enrollment in the district’s insurance plan through Aug. 31, 2019.”

A “No Admission of Fault” section is part of the agreement, reading, “This agreement is neither a concession nor admission by McElliott that any matters asserted by the district involved in this dispute are well founded nor a concession or admission by the district that any matters asserted by McElliott in this dispute are well-founded.”

According to court documents, McElliott said he found the threatening message on the school gym door and outlined his actions the morning of Nov. 5 to Hoquiam Police. Investigators reported surveillance footage from the school gym area was not consistent with McElliott’s version of events and appeared to show “that the Defendant’s arm was moving as if he is writing while he was standing facing the door” where the threat was written.

Similar threats were reported in February 2017 and October 2018, according to court documents.

The charges of Causing an Unnecessary Emergency Response and Making a False or Misleading Statement to a Public Servant were filed by Hoquiam City Attorney Steve Johnson Nov. 14. The case is still pending in Hoquiam Municipal Court. The misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges carry a maximum punishment of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.