The firing of 91原创 superintendent of schools Cheryle Beaumont cost taxpayers more than $300,000.

In the school district鈥檚 amended 2012 budget, which was approved at last Tuesday鈥檚 Board of Education meeting, it showed that severance of $440,533 was paid out to Beaumont and the former assistant secretary-treasurer, Tally Bains.

鈥淲e are trying to be as transparent and open about this as possible,鈥� said board chair Wendy Johnson.

She expects that the board will be able to make public exactly how much of the $440,000 went to Beaumont.

The former superintendent made $198,503 per year, plus benefits.

On top of her severance, the 2012 budget included $62,000 for Beaumont鈥檚 鈥渄eparture costs.鈥�

That $62,000 is a combination of paying the legal expenses for Beaumont鈥檚 departure and hiring a head hunting company to find a new superintendent, said Johnson.

The board hired B.C. Public School Employees Association to find a replacement.

鈥淭hey have been very successful in finding the right people for this job and charge less than head hunters,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淚n the end it will cost us around $30,000 to find a new superintendent.鈥�

Trustees were expected to meet with BCPSEA on Monday to talk about what they are looking for and the search will begin next week, she said.

In a press release from the board in January, it announced Beaumont鈥檚 departure, saying she was leaving 鈥渢o pursue other ventures.鈥�

But veteran trustee Alison McVeigh revealed to The Times that Beaumont was in fact fired in a 5-2 vote by the trustees. McVeigh and trustee Rod Ross have been vocal in their opposition to letting Beaumont go.

McVeigh has been censured by the board for releasing in-camera information about Beaumont鈥檚 departure.