Document:

EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 
  

 
 AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE 

Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”), by and between Maureen O’Connell (“Employee” or “you”) and
Scholastic Inc. (the “Company”). 
 Separation from Employment. 

(a) Separation Date. You acknowledge that your last day of employment is October 27, 2017 (the “Separation Date”) at
which time your employment with the Company will be terminated. After the Separation Date, you shall not represent yourself as being an employee, officer, agent or representative of the Company or any Company Entities (as hereinafter defined) for
any purpose. The Separation Date shall be the termination date for purposes of participation in and coverage under all benefit plans and programs sponsored by or through the Company Entities, as defined in paragraph 4, except as specified in
paragraph 2 below. You acknowledge and agree that the Company shall have no obligation to rehire you, or to consider you for employment after the Separation Date. You acknowledge that the representations in this paragraph constitute a material
inducement for the Company to provide the payments and benefits to you pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Agreement and that you would not receive the pay and/or benefits described in this Agreement absent your execution of this Agreement. 

(b) Payment of Wages and Vacation. No later than the next regular payroll date following the Separation Date, you will receive payment
for wages due and owing through the Separation Date, as well as for any accrued but unused vacation days through the Separation Date. 

Consideration. Following the 8th day from the date on which you sign the
Agreement, (the “Effective Date), and in exchange for your waiver of claims against the Company Entities and compliance with other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will: 

(a) Pay you thirty-three (33) months of severance pay in the gross amount of $2,062,500.00 (Two Million
Sixty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars), subject to tax withholding and other applicable deductions. This payment will be made in a lump sum in accordance with Section 2(g) below; 

(b) Pay you a lump sum to purchase COBRA coverage in the gross amount of $21,362.00 (Twenty-One
Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Dollars), subject to tax withholding and other applicable deductions. This payment will be made in a lump sum in accordance with Section 2(g) below; 

(c) Pay you a prorated MIP bonus accrued as of the Separation Date, in the gross amount of $148,437.50 (One Hundred Forty-Eight Thousand Four
Hundred Thirty-Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents), subject to tax withholding and other applicable deductions. This payment will be made in a lump sum in accordance with Section 2(g) below; 

 (d) Pay you a lump sum amount of $54,500.00 for your reasonable attorneys’ fees in
accordance with Section 2(g) below, for which you will receive a 1099 tax form; and 
 (e) On and as of the Separation Date, immediately
vest in you all unvested equity interests granted to you under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, any amendment thereto, and any other stock incentive plans, as amended, including but not limited to (i) stock options, (ii) shares of restricted
stock, (iii) restricted stock units and (iv) performance shares, granted to you (including but not limited to that purchased under the Management Stock Purchase Plan and any other plan or agreement). In accordance with your August 3,
2015 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, Section 2(c) – Section 409A Award, and any other applicable Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, distribution pursuant thereto will be delayed until six months after the Separation Date and such
distribution shall be made on the first business day of the seventh month following the Separation Date. As an individual with inside information, you are restricted from selling stock until after the Company’s second quarter earnings release
on December 14, 2017. 
 (f) Include a statement in the required 8K filing regarding the material terms of this Agreement and that your
termination was not for cause, which shall be filed within the time required by law. 
 (g) All amounts due you under this Section 2
shall be paid to you in a lump sum no later than the next regularly scheduled pay period following the Effective Date, which shall be December 15, 2017. 

3. You acknowledge and agree that the payments and other benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement: (i) are in full discharge of any
and all liabilities and obligations of the Company to you, monetarily or with respect to employee benefits or otherwise, including but not limited to any and all obligations arising under any alleged written or oral employment agreement, policy,
plan or procedure of the Company and/or any alleged understanding or arrangement between you and the Company, other than the Company’s obligation to comply with this Agreement; and (ii) exceed any payment, benefit, or other thing of value
to which you might otherwise be entitled under any policy, plan or procedure of the Company and/or any agreement between you and the Company; provided however this does not apply to and shall not discharge any rights or claims that you may have
under the provisions of any qualified retirement plans (401(k) and Cash Balance Plan) maintained by the Company and/or Company Entities in which you participated during your employment. 

4. Release. 
 (a) In
consideration for the payments and benefits to be provided you pursuant to paragraph 2 above, you, for yourself and for your heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, legal representatives and assigns (hereinafter referred to collectively as
“Releasors”), forever release and discharge the Company and its past, present and future parent entities, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and related business entities, successors and assigns, assets, employee benefit plans or funds,
and any of its or their respective past, present and/or future directors, officers, fiduciaries, agents, trustees, administrators, employees and assigns, whether acting on behalf of the Company or in their individual capacities (collectively the
“Company Entities”) from any 

 
and all claims, demands, causes of action, fees and liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, which you ever had, now have, or may have against any of the Company Entities by
reason of any act, omission, transaction, practice, plan, policy, procedure, conduct, occurrence, or other matter up to and including the date on which you sign this Agreement. 

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to and shall release the Company Entities from any and all
claims, whether known or unknown, which Releasors ever had, now have, or may have against the Companies Entities arising out of your employment and/or your separation from that employment, including, but not limited to: 

(i) any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the Equal Pay Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (excluding claims for accrued, vested benefits
under any employee benefit or pension plan of the Company Entities subject to the terms and conditions of such plan and applicable law), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act,
and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; 
 (ii) any claim under the New York State Human Rights Law, New York Executive Law, as amended,
New York Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, New York Nondiscrimination Against Genetic Disorders Law, New York Bias Against Cancer Victims Law, New York Adoptive Parents Child Care Leave Law, New York City Administrative Code, New York State
Constitution, New York City Constitution or common law; 
 (iii) any other claim (whether based on federal, state, or local
law, statutory or decisional) relating to or arising out of your employment, the terms and conditions of such employment, the termination of such employment, and/or any of the events relating directly or indirectly to or surrounding the termination
of that employment, including but not limited to breach of contract (express or implied), wrongful discharge, covenant of good faith and fair dealing, detrimental reliance, retaliation, defamation, emotional distress, compensatory or punitive
damages, claims for benefits or fringe benefits, claims for, or relating to, stock, stock options, or restricted stock units, claims for compensation, including but not limited to wages, bonuses, commissions, or claims for severance of termination
pay; and 
 (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall be a release, waiver or discharge of claims that may arise after the date on which you sign
this Agreement, nor shall it affect your rights to engage in protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. Nothing in this Agreement shall be a release, waiver or discharge of your right to enforce the terms
of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall release, waive or discharge any rights or claims that you may have under the provisions of qualified retirement plans (the 401(k) and Cash Balance Plan) maintained by the Company and/or Company
Entities and in which you participated during your employment. 

 5. No Claims Filed. You represent and warrant that you have not commenced, maintained,
prosecuted or participated in any action, suit, charge, grievance, complaint or proceeding of any kind against Company Entities in any court or before any administrative or investigative body or agency and/or that you are hereby withdrawing with
prejudice any such complaints, charges, or actions that you may have filed against Company Entities. You further acknowledge and agree that by virtue of the foregoing, you have waived all relief available to you (including without limitation,
monetary damages, equitable relief and reinstatement) under any of the claims and/or causes of action waived in paragraph 4 above. 
 6.
Liability for Taxes; No Tax Guarantee. You agree that you shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences with respect to all amounts payable under this Agreement, and in no event shall Company have any responsibility or liability, if
this Agreement, or any payment described in this Agreement, does not meet any applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. You acknowledge that Company has provided no advice concerning tax, benefits, or COBRA eligibility
issues in connection with the payments identified in paragraph 2 or the negotiation of this Agreement. You further agree to indemnify and hold Company harmless from any and all liability, including, without limitation, all penalties, interest and
other costs that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental agencies regarding any tax obligations that may arise from the payments paid to you under this Agreement, except, however, with respect to any liability or
obligation that Company may have had as to payroll-related tax withholdings. 
 7. Code Section 409A. The benefits
and payments provided under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from, or comply with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.
To the extent that a payment or benefit hereunder is subject to Section 409A, it is intended that it be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A, including final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision of this Agreement that is inconsistent with Section 409A shall be deemed to be amended to comply with
Section 409A. 
 8. Non-Disparagement. (a) You agree that you will not disparage or
encourage or induce others to disparage the Company and any of the Company Entities, including but not limited to Dick Robinson, Satbir Bedi, Andrew Hedden, or Iole Lucchese. For the purposes of this Section 8(a), the term “disparage”
means derogatory comments or statements, whether oral or written, to the business community, press and/or media, the Company Entities or any individual or entity with whom any of the Company Entities has a business relationship which would adversely
affect or impugn in any manner (i) the conduct of the business of any of the Company Entities (including, without limitation, any business plans or prospects) or (ii) the business reputation of the Company Entities or (iii) the
reputation, character, integrity, qualifications, or ethics of the above-named individuals who are included in the Company Entities. You agree that the Company will be injured if you violate this provision. 

 (b) The Company agrees to instruct Dick Robinson, Satbir Bedi, Andrew Hedden and Iole Lucchese
not to disparage you or encourage or induce others to disparage you. The Company agrees that you will be injured if Dick Robinson, Satbir Bedi, Andrew Hedden and/or Iole Lucchese violate this provision. For purposes of this Section 8(b), the
term “disparage” means derogatory comments or statements, whether oral or written, to the business community, press and/or media, the Company Entities, or any individual or entity with whom you or any of the Company Entities has a business
relationship, which would adversely affect or impugn in any manner your reputation, character, integrity, qualifications or ethics. 
 9.
Reasonable Assistance. 
 (a) You agree that you will cooperate with the Company and/or the Company Entities and its or their
respective counsel, as reasonably requested by the Company, in connection with any investigation, administrative proceeding or litigation relating to any matter that occurred during your employment in which you were involved or of which you have
knowledge. In the event of such a request, you and the Company will agree on a mutually acceptable rate for your assistance at that time. 

(b) You agree that, in the event you are subpoenaed by any person or entity (including, but not limited to, any government agency) to give
testimony (in a deposition, court proceeding or otherwise) which in any way relates to your employment by the Company and/or the Company Entities, you will give prompt notice of such request to Andrew Hedden, EVP & General Counsel (or his
successor) at 557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012, and will make no disclosure until the Company and/or the Company Entities have had a reasonable opportunity to contest the right of the requesting person or entity to such disclosure as long as
compliance herewith does not require you to violate the law or the terms of the subpoena. 
 10. Confidentiality of Agreement. The
terms and conditions of this Agreement are and shall be deemed to be confidential, except as required by law, and shall not be disclosed by you to any person or entity without the prior written consent of the Company, except if required by law,
subpoena or Court or governmental agency order, and to your accountants, attorneys and/or spouse, provided that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, rule, code or regulation, they agree to maintain the confidentiality of the
Agreement. You further represent that you have not disclosed the terms and conditions of the Agreement to anyone other than your attorneys, accountants and/or spouse. The Company shall also not disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
except if required by law, subpoena or Court or governmental agency order, and to the Company’s attorneys and auditors, and those employees with a need to know in order to effectuate the Company’s obligations in the Agreement. 

11. Confidential Information. You agree that you will not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, furnish or make accessible to any
third party any confidential, sensitive and/or proprietary information learned, discovered, developed, conceived or prepared by you during or as a result of your employment by the Company. For purposes of this Paragraph, confidential, sensitive
and/or proprietary information shall include but not be limited to: customer information, financial information, business plans and policies, methods of operation, strategic initiatives, and business development plans; it shall not include any
information which (i) was rightfully known by you prior to your employment by the Company; (ii) becomes publicly 

 
available without any fault or involvement by you; or (iii) is generally known prior to the date upon which you propose to use, disclose, furnish or make assessable to any third party such
information. Nothing herein precludes you from responding to an order of a court or governmental agency or subpoena, provided you comply with Section 9(b). 

12. Non-Solicitation. You agree that for twelve (12) months after the Separation Date, you
will not, without the written prior consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit, contact, approach, encourage, induce or attempt to solicit, contact, approach, encourage or
induce any of the employees or agents of the Company or the Company Entities to terminate their employment or agency with the Company and/or the Company Entities. You further agree that for six (6) months after the Separation Date, you will
not, without the written prior consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit, contact, approach, encourage, induce or attempt to solicit, contact, approach, encourage or induce
any of the Company or Company Entities’ customers, vendors, or suppliers to terminate or alter their relationship or contractual relations with the Company and/or the Company Entities. 

You represent that you have not violated this Section 12 during the period between the Separation Date and the Effective Date. 

13. Non-Compete. You agree that for nine (9) months after the Separation Date, you will
not, without the written prior consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, enter into the employ of, render any services or assistance to, acquire any financial interest in
(excluding any securities held in your 401k account as of the Separation Date), or otherwise become associated with (i) Penguin Random House, (ii) Time, Inc., (iii) Pearson or (iv) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. You further agree,
that for six (6) months after the Separation Date, you will not, without the written prior consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, enter into the employ of, render any
services or assistance to, acquire any financial interest in (excluding any securities held in your 401k account as of the Separation Date), or otherwise become associated with, any person or entity engaged in a business, including the trade
publishing and K-12 educational publishing industries, whose products and services are competitive with the Company’s products or services which you supported while employed by the Company. 

You represent that you have not violated this Section 13 during the period between the Separation Date and the Effective Date. 

14. Return of Company Property. You represent that you have returned to the Company all property belonging to the Company and/or the
Company Entities, including but not limited to Blackberry, iPhone, laptop, desktop, keys, card access to the building and office floors, phone card, rolodex (if provided by the Company and/or the Company Entities), computer user name and password,
disks and/or voicemail code. 
 15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall have no effect; however, the remaining provisions shall be enforced to the maximum extent possible. Further, if a court 

 
should determine that any portion of this Agreement is overbroad or unreasonable, such provision shall be given effect to the maximum extent possible by narrowing or enforcing in part that aspect
of the provision found overbroad or unreasonable. Additionally, if either party breaches the terms of this Agreement, it shall constitute a material breach as to which you and the Company may seek all relief available under the law. 

16. No Admissions. 
 (a) This Agreement is
not intended, and shall not be construed, as an admission that you or any of the Company Entities has violated any federal, state or local law (statutory or decisional), ordinance or regulation, breached any contract or committed any wrong
whatsoever. 
 (b) Should any provision of this Agreement require interpretation or construction, it is agreed by the parties that the entity
interpreting or constructing this Agreement shall not apply a presumption against one party by reason of the rule of construction that a document is to be construed more strictly against the party who prepared the document. 

17. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties and their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. 
 18. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law. 
 19. Complete Agreement. You
understand that this Agreement constitutes the complete understanding between the Company and you, and supersedes any and all agreements, understandings, and discussions, whether written or oral, between you and any of the Company Entities,
including the Severance Agreement dated September 26, 2013, provided, that this Agreement shall not supersede those provisions of the Company’s Code of Ethics which by their terms apply to former employees of the Company, or any
Stock Incentive Plan, Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement except as otherwise expressly stated in Section 2(e) above. No other promises or agreements shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both the Company and
you after the Effective Date of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified or amended unless in writing signed by you and the Company. 

20. Voluntary and Knowing Agreement. You acknowledge that you: (a) have carefully read this Agreement in its entirety;
(b) are hereby advised by the Company in writing to consult with an attorney of your choice in connection with this Agreement; (c) fully understand the significance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and have discussed
them with your independent legal counsel, or have had a reasonable opportunity to do so; (d) have had answered to your satisfaction by your independent legal counsel any questions you have asked with regard to the meaning and significance of
any of the provisions of this Agreement; and (e) are signing this Agreement voluntarily and of your own free will and agree to abide by all the terms and conditions contained herein. 

21. Review and Revocation Period. You acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to consider this Agreement for at least twenty-one (21) days before signing it. You acknowledge and agree that any modifications, material or otherwise, made to the Agreement do 

 
not restart or affect in any manner the original twenty-one (21) calendar day consideration period. You understand you may revoke this Agreement
within seven (7) days after you sign it by contacting Lindsey Cotter, SVP, Human Resources at (212) 343-4679. If you do not timely revoke this Agreement, it will become effective on the Effective
Date. If you revoke the Agreement, all of the terms and conditions contained herein will become null and void, including but not limited to the obligation of the Company to provide the payments and other benefits referred to in paragraph 2
above. 
 22. Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings throughout this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and the
words therein shall in no way be held to explain, modify, amplify or aid in the interpretation, construction or meaning of the provisions of this Agreement. 

23. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. 
 [SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW] 

					
	 /s/Maureen O’Connell        

Maureen O’Connell
	 		 	Date: December 6, 2017

  

					
	STATE OF NEW YORK	  	)	  	
		  		  	 ) ss.:

	COUNTY OF NEW YORK	  	)	  	

 On this          day of
                 2017, before me personally came Maureen O’Connell to me known and known to me to be the person described and who executed the foregoing
Agreement, and he/she duly acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same. 

	
	
	 
	Notary Public

  

							
	SCHOLASTIC INC.	 		 	
				
	By:	 	/s/ Lindsey Cotter        	 		 	Date: December 6, 2017
		 	 Lindsey Cotter
 SVP, Human ResourcesExhibit

Exhibit 10.19

March 29, 2016

Mark Terry
150 South Fork Road
Tyrone, GA 30290

Dear Mark,

We are pleased to confirm our offer of employment to you on the following terms:

Position

Chief Commercial Officer, reporting to Phil Horlock, President and CEO. You will have the duties and responsibilities of that position and will be a member of the senior leadership team.

Base Salary

Your base salary will be $300,000 annually. It will be payable on the 10th and 25th of each month.

Management Performance Bonus Plan

You will also be eligible for participation in the Blue Bird Performance Bonus Plan with a target bonus of 100% of your base salary. For FY2016, your participation will be on a pro rata basis. The Bonus is based on the Company meeting certain financial objectives involving EBITDA and Net Debt Improvement.

Equity

Subject to the approval of the Board's Compensation Committee, you shall be eligible to participate in the Blue Bird Corporation Omnibus 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee reviews compensation and issues equity grants at its December meeting.

Withholding

All pay, incentives and other compensation shall be subject to applicable withholdings for federal, state and local taxes and shall be payable in accordance with the Company's regular payroll policies.

Benefits

While employed by the Company, you will be entitled to participate in all benefit plans in which employees are generally eligible to participate, including the following:

		
	•
	Company Life insurance and AD&D are administered by Metlife;

		
	◦
	Blue Bird will provide you with three times your annual salary in life coverage (maximum $1M). You may elect to take additional optional life insurance for you, your spouse and children (if applicable).

		
	•
	Salaried Short-Term disability (self-administrated)

		
	◦
	Blue Bird will provide regular payroll for 180 days

		
	•
	Executive Supplemental Long-Term Disability program (after 180 days) provided through Unum

Exhibit 10.19

		
	◦
	Blue Bird will provide individual disability plan which pays 75% of base with monthly maximum of $10,000 benefit to Age 67

		
	•
	401k Retirement Savings program administered through MassMutual. Following 90 days of continuous employment, the company will match 50% of your contribution to 6%.

		
	•
	Company-sponsored healthcare coverage.

Expense Reimbursement

You shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all appropriate traveling and other business expenses in accordance with the policies of the Company.

Relocation

The relocation benefit will be administered through Vision Relocation and will be subject to the terms of the Blue Bird's Relocation Policy. The relocation benefit will include at the Company's expense a corporate apartment in Macon, Georgia for six months. The Company will also cover the normal closing costs on the sale of your current residence and the purchase of a primary residence in the Macon, Georgia area if the sale and purchase occur within one year from your start date.

Car Allowance

You shall be entitled to a monthly car allowance of $980, less required deductions, to be paid in semi-monthly installments.

Paid Time Off

You shall be entitled to four weeks' vacation and two attendance days of paid time off annually. One week of vacation will be allotted to the Christmas Shutdown in December. The carry-over and accrual of paid time off days shall be in accordance with Company policy. 

Employment at Will

Notwithstanding anything in this Letter Agreement to the contrary, your employment by the Company will be at will and may be terminated by the Company at any time, subject to the company's generally applicable employment policies.

Your Start Date

Unless otherwise agreed upon, it is anticipated your start date will be April 18, 2016.

Severance Agreement

If the Company terminates your employment without cause, the Company will in accordance with its severance policies continue to pay you your base salary for twelve months.

Amendment or Termination of Plans or Practices

The Company continues to reserve the right to modify, amend or terminate any of the employee benefit plans or practices. In all cases, the terms of all plans shall determine your eligibility for compensation and benefits.

E-Verify

As a federal contractor, we are required to verify the eligibility of all new hires to the Department of Homeland Security utilizing the E-Verify website. As such, you will be required to provide to the Company documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. Such documentation must be provided to us within three (3) business days from your date of hire, or our employment relationship with you may be terminated. If you are unsure what documents are acceptable, please contact me prior to your start date for the current list.

Exhibit 10.19

Disclosure, Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation

We also ask that, if you have not already done so, you disclose to the Company any and all agreements relating to your prior employment that may affect your eligibility to be employed by the Company or limit the manner in which you may be employed. It is the Company's understanding that any such agreements will not prevent you from performing the duties of your position and you represent that such is the case. Moreover, you agree that, during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of your employment, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company. Similarly, you agree not to bring any third party confidential information to the Company, including that of your former employer, and that in performing your duties for the Company you will not in any way utilize any such information.

As a condition of your employment, you are also required to sign and return the following documents prior to your first day of employment:

		
	•
	At-Will Employment

		
	•
	Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation

		
	•
	Relocation Agreement

		
	•
	Severance Agreement

We look forward to welcoming you at Blue Bird. To accept this job offer, please sign and date where indicated below and also sign and date each of the required documents that are attached.

	
			
	/s/ Mark Terry
	 
	4/4/2016

	Mark Terry
	 
	Date

Sincerely,

	
	
	/s/ Phil Horlock

	Phil Horlock

	President and Chief Executive Officer

	Blue Bird Corporation

Exhibit 10.19

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this 18th day of April 2016, by and between Blue Bird Corporation (the "Company") and Mark Terry (the "Employee") (the "Company" and the "Employee," collectively, the "Parties," each a "Party").

WHEREAS, the Employee is employed by the Company as Chief Commercial Officer; and

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to set forth the terms and conditions of any future termination of the Employee's employment with the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Effective Date; Term. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain effective until the end of the Severance Period (the "Term").

2. Eligibility for Severance Benefits. The Employee shall receive the benefits provided for in Section 3 herein ("Severance Benefits") provided that:

a. the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below) a "Qualifying Termination"; and

b. the Employee has complied and continues to comply with the restrictions and obligations set forth in Section 7 herein; and

c. the Employee signs, and does not revoke, a valid general release of all
claims against the Company and its parents, subsidiaries, Affiliates (as defined in Section 7(a) herein), successors and assigns, and all such entities' respective current and former directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the "Release"); and

d. the Employee has not breached any of the provisions of the Release or any provisions of this Agreement, as determined by the Company.

e. the Employee has not entered into a subsequent employment relationship. It is required that the Employee advise the Company in the event during the Severance period if they have accepted and the date that they began other employment. The paid severance will terminate at this point.

For the purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means, as determined by the Company, (i) conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony by the Employee; (ii) acts of dishonesty by the Employee resulting or intending to result in personal gain or enrichment at the expense of the Company or its parents, subsidiaries or Affiliates; (iii) the Employee's material breach of any agreement between the Company and the Employee or other Company policies as may be in effect from time to time, as amended from time to time; (iv) conduct by the Employee in connection with his or her duties that is fraudulent, unlawful or grossly negligent, including, but not limited to, acts of discrimination; (v) engaging in personal conduct by the Employee (including but not limited to employee harassment or discrimination, the use or possession at work of any illegal controlled substance) which seriously discredits or damages the Company or its parents, subsidiaries or Affiliates; (vi) continuing failure by the Employee to adequately perform his or her duties or continuing inattention to such duties; or (vii) breach of the Employee's restrictions and obligations set forth in Section 7 herein before the Termination Date.

3. Severance Benefits. In the event of a Qualifying Termination in which the Employee satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 2, the Employee shall receive as of the effective date of the termination of the Employee's employment with the Company (the "Termination Date") the following Severance Benefits:

Exhibit 10.19

a. Continued payment of Base Salary as in effect on the Termination Date for a period of twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (the "Severance Period") (such continued payments, "Severance Payments"); and

b. reimbursement of the cost of continuation coverage of group health coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 ("COBRA") from the Termination Date until the earlier of (i) the last day of the Severance Period, or (ii) the date the Employee becomes eligible for group health benefits under a plan, policy or program of a subsequent employer, or (iii) the end of the Employee's eligibility period under COBRA; provided that the Employee is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage, and subject to the terms of the plan and applicable law. During any remaining period of continuation coverage, the Employee shall be responsible for the entire cost of such continuation coverage.

No other amounts (including, without limitation, any unpaid bonuses or amounts under any other severance plan, policy or arrangement) or benefits shall be payable or owed to the Employee upon or after the Termination Date, unless otherwise provided for under this Agreement or as otherwise may be required by law.

4. Payment of Severance Benefits. Severance Payments shall be made to the Employee in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, commencing on the first day of the month following the effective date of the Release. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not be entitled to any Severance Benefits upon or after the Termination Date if the Employee has breached any of the covenants contained in Section 7. If the Company determines that the Employee has breached any of the provisions of the Release or any provisions of this Agreement after the Termination Date, in addition to any other remedies it may have, the Company shall not be liable to the Employee for any Severance Benefits that remain to be paid or provided to the Employee as of the date of the Company's determination that the Employee has breached any such provision. Furthermore, the Employee will immediately return to the Company any such Severance Benefits previously received under this Agreement upon such a breach, and, in the event of such breach, the Company will have no obligation to pay any Severance Benefits that otherwise remain payable.

5. Other Compensation and Benefits. In addition to any amounts received by the Employee pursuant to Section 3, upon termination of the Employee's employment with the Company the Employee shall also be entitled to: (i) the Employee's accrued but unpaid Base Salary to the Termination Date and any employee benefits the Employee may be entitled to pursuant to the employee benefit plans of the Company; (ii) the unpaid portion of any bonus, if any, relating to the calendar year prior to the calendar year of the Employee's termination of employment, payable on the earlier of (x) thirty days after the approval by the Board of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, and (y) the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses to other similarly situated employees of the Company; (iii) reimbursement for all appropriate business expenses incurred by the Employee in connection with his or her employment by the Company in accordance with the policies of the Company as in effect from time to time that are incurred but not yet reimbursed to the Employee through the Termination Date; and (iv) in the event of a Qualifying Termination, payment for accrued unused vacation days, payable in accordance with Company policy.

6. Tax Withholding. The Company is authorized to withhold from any benefit provided or payment due hereunder, the amount of withholding taxes due under any federal, state or local authority in respect of such benefit or payment and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Board to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding taxes.

7. Restrictions and Obligations of the Employee. 
a.   Confidentiality.
i. During the course of the Employee's employment by the Company, the Employee has had and will have access to certain trade secrets and confidential information relating to the Company, its parents and/or subsidiaries and/or the Affiliates (as defined below) of the Company, its parents and/or subsidiaries (the "Protected 

Exhibit 10.19

Parties") which is not readily available from sources outside the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Affiliate" means, any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company and/or its parents and/or subsidiaries, respectively. The confidential and proprietary information and, in any material respect, trade secrets of the Protected Parties are among their most valuable assets, including but not limited to, their customer, supplier and vendor lists, databases, competitive strategies, computer programs, frameworks, or models, their marketing programs, their sales, financial, marketing, training and technical information, their product development (and proprietary product data) and any other information, whether communicated orally, electronically, in writing or in other tangible forms concerning how the Protected Parties create, develop, acquire or maintain their products and, marketing plans, target their potential customers and operate their retail and other businesses. The Protected Parties invested, and continue to invest, considerable amounts of time and money in their process, technology, know-how, obtaining and developing the goodwill of their customers, their other external relationships, their data systems and data bases, and all the information described above (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Confidential Information"), and any misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information in any form would irreparably harm the Protected Parties. The Employee acknowledges that such Confidential Information constitutes valuable, highly confidential, special and unique property of the Protected Parties. The Employee shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Protected Parties all Confidential Information relating to the Protected Parties and their businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Employee during the Employee's employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Employee or representatives of the Employee in violation of this Agreement). Except as required by law or an order of a court or governmental agency with jurisdiction, the Employee shall not, during the period the Employee is employed by the Company or at any time thereafter, disclose any Confidential information, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor shall the Employee use it in any way, except in the course of the Employee's employment with the Company and for the benefit of the Protected Parties or to enforce any rights or defend any claims hereunder or under any other agreement to which the Employee is a party, provided that such disclosure is relevant to the enforcement of such rights or defense of such claims and is only disclosed in the formal proceedings related thereto. The Employee shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard the Confidential information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss and theft. The Employee understands and agrees that the Employee shall acquire no rights to any such Confidential information.
ii. All files, records, documents, drawings, specifications, data, computer programs, evaluation mechanisms and analytics and similar items relating thereto or to the Protected Parties' businesses, as well as all customer lists, specific customer information, compilations of product research and marketing techniques of the Protected Parties, whether prepared by the Employee or otherwise coming into the Employee's possession, shall remain the exclusive property of the Protected Parties, and the Employee shall not remove any such items from the premises of the Protected Parties, except in furtherance of the Employee's duties.
iii. It is understood that while employed by the Company the Employee will promptly disclose to it, and assign to it the Employee's interest in any invention, improvement or discovery made or conceived by the Employee, either alone or jointly with others, which arises out of the Employee's employment. At the Company's request and expense, the Employee will assist the Protected Parties during the period of the Employee's employment by the Company and thereafter in connection with any controversy or legal proceeding relating to such invention, improvement or discovery and in obtaining domestic and foreign patent or other protection covering the same.
iv. As requested by the Company and at the Company's expense, from time to time and upon the termination of the Employee's employment with the Company for any reason, the Employee will promptly deliver to the Company all copies and embodiments, in whatever form, of all Confidential information in the Employee's possession or within his or her control (including, but not limited to, memoranda, records, notes, plans, photographs, manuals, notebooks, documentation, program 

Exhibit 10.19

listings, flow charts, magnetic media, disks, diskettes, tapes and all other materials containing any Confidential information) irrespective of the location or form of such material. If requested by the Company, the Employee will provide the Company with written confirmation that all such materials have been delivered to the Company as provided herein.

b.   Non-Solicitation or Hire. During the Employee's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year following the Employee's termination of employment for any reason, the Employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit or induce, directly or indirectly, (i) any party who is a customer of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, or who was a customer of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries at any time during the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the Termination Date, for the purpose of marketing selling or providing to any such party any services or products offered by or available from School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries (provided that if the Employee intends to solicit any such party for any other purpose, he shall notify the Company of such intention and receive prior written approval from the Company), (ii) any supplier to School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries to terminate, reduce or alter negatively its relationship with School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or in any manner interfere with any agreement or contract between School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries and such supplier or (iii) any employee of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or any person who was an employee of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries during the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the date the Employee's employment terminates to terminate such employee's employment relationship with School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries in order, in either case, to enter into a similar relationship with the Employee, or any other person or any entity in competition with the Business of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.

c.   Non-Competition. During the Employee's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year following the Employee's termination of employment for any reason, the Employee shall not, whether individually, as a director, manager, member, stockholder, partner, owner, employee, consultant or agent of any business, or in any other capacity, other than on behalf of School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, organize, establish, own, operate, manage, control, engage in, participate in, invest in, permit his or her name to be used by, act as a consultant or advisor to, render services for (alone or in association with any person, firm, corporation or business organization), or otherwise assist any person or entity that engages in or owns, invests in, operates, manages or controls any venture or enterprise which engages or proposes to engage in any business conducted by School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries on the Termination Date or within twelve (12) months of the Employee's termination of employment with the Company in the geographic locations where School Bus Holdings Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, respectively engage or propose to engage in such business (the "Business"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Employee from owning for passive investment purposes not intended to circumvent this Agreement, less than five percent (5%) of the publicly traded common equity securities of any company engaged in the Business (so long as the Employee has no power to manage, operate, advise, consult with or control the competing enterprise and no power, alone or in conjunction with other affiliated parties, to select a director, manager, general partner, or similar governing official of the competing enterprise other than in connection with the normal and customary voting powers afforded the Employee in connection with any permissible equity ownership).

Exhibit 10.19

d.   Nondisparagement. The Employee shall not at any time (whether during or after the Term) publish or communicate to any person or entity any Disparaging (as defined below) remarks, comments or statements concerning the Company, its parents, subsidiaries and/or Affiliates, and their respective present and former members, partners, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns. "Disparaging" remarks, comments or statements are those that impugn the character, honesty, integrity or morality or business acumen or abilities in connection with any aspect of the operation of business of the individual or entity being disparaged.

e.   Property. The Employee acknowledges that all originals and copies of materials, records and documents generated by him or coming into his or her possession during his or her employment by the Company are the sole property of the Company ("Company Property"). During the Term, and at all times thereafter, the Employee shall not remove, or cause to be removed, from the premises of the Company or its parents, subsidiaries or Affiliates copies of any record, file, memorandum, document, computer related information or equipment, or any other item relating to the Business, except in furtherance of his or her duties. When the Employee's employment with the Company terminates, or upon request of the Company at any time, the Employee shall promptly deliver to the Company all copies of Company Property in his or her possession or control.

8. Remedies; Specific Performance. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Employee's breach or threatened breach of any of the restrictions set forth in Section 7 will result in irreparable and continuing damage to the Company and its parents, subsidiaries, and, as applicable, the Affiliates of the Company and its parents and subsidiaries, for which there may be no adequate remedy at law and that the Company and its parents and subsidiaries, and, as applicable, the Affiliates of the Company and its parents and subsidiaries, shall be entitled to equitable relief, including specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for any such breach or threatened or attempted breach. The Employee hereby consents to the grant of an injunction (temporary or otherwise) against the Employee or the entry of any other court order against the Employee prohibiting and enjoining him from violating, or directing him to comply with any provision of Section 7. The Employee also agrees that such remedies shall be in addition to any and all remedies, including damages, available to the Company against him or her for such breaches or threatened or attempted breaches.

9. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement,
or any part thereof, is held by a court of competent jurisdiction of any foreign, federal, state, county or local government or any other governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against public policy for any reason, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected or impaired or invalidated. The Employee acknowledges that the restrictive covenants contained in Section 7 are a condition of this Agreement and are reasonable and valid in temporal scope and in all other respects.

10. Judicial Modification. If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any of the covenants in Section 7, or any part of any of them, is invalid or unenforceable (including, without limitation, because of the geographic or temporal scope of such provision), such covenant or part thereof shall apply to the maximum extent otherwise permitted at applicable law with such modifications as will be necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

11. Miscellaneous
    
a. No Right to Employment. This Agreement does not create for the Employee any employment right. This Agreement is not a contract of employment and does not alter the employment at-will relationship. Either Party may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason.

Exhibit 10.19

b. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

c. Waiver and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the Parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the Party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any right, power or privilege hereunder, nor any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder

d. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed, sent by facsimile transmission or sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid or overnight mail and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed, or sent by facsimile transmission or, if mailed, four (4) days after the date of mailing or one (1) day after overnight mail, as follows:

i. If the Company, to: Blue Bird Corporation
402 Blue Bird Boulevard
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Attention: Mike McCurdy
Telephone: (478) 822-2008
Fax: (478) 822-2427

ii. If the Employee, to the Employee's home address reflected in the Company's records.

e. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia applicable to agreements made and not to be performed entirely 'within such state, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

f. Dispute Resolution and Venue. The Parties agree irrevocably to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts or, if no federal jurisdiction exists, the state courts, located in Macon, Georgia, for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding brought by any Party arising out of any breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action, or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper, or that the provisions of this Agreement may not be enforced in or by such courts. In addition, the Parties agree to the waiver of a jury trial.

g. Assignability by the Company and the Employee. This Agreement, and the rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Company or the Employee without written consent signed by the other Party; provided that the Company may assign the Agreement to any successor that continues the business of the Company.

h. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

i. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of terms contained herein.

j. Survival Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this Agreement shall survive after the Term. 

Exhibit 10.19

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above mentioned.

	
	
	 

	EMPLOYEE

	/s/ Mark Terry

	Mark Terry

	 

	BLUE BIRD CORPORATION

	By: /s/Mike McCurdy

	Name: Mike McCurdy

	Title: VP Human Resources / External Affairs

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