DA: No Violations at Jay School Board Meetings
Assistant District Attorney Ben Loring said this week that no violations of either the Oklahoma Open Meetings or Records Acts occurred during recent Jay School Board meetings, at least through June 2, and that the secret "memo" given to School Superintendent David Schachle at the May 30 meeting was part of the Executive Session, even though it was listed as item #8 on the public agenda portion.
The memo is believed to be a list of do's and don'ts for Schachle during his resignation period, effective June 30, 2007, and if violated would result in his immediate firing.
In the meantime, the school board has enraged Jay parents by hiring a new administrative assistant over the objections of Schachle; accidentally disclosing a document revealing that the board is looking for a replacement for Schachle; possible violations of state school standards, deleting public participation from board meetings, and taking the school system more into the direction of athletics than previously.
The last meeting occurred on June 13 and there was discussion of fire alarms in the school buildings. Board member Warren Shackleford was asked if it wanted Schachle to get them installed, Shackleford replied "not until we see how much it will take to repair the athletic fieldhouse," according to one source.
Schachle had also alerted the board that the school had taken a $10,000 penalty for class size overcrowding and felt that before any new staffing is made to the athletic department "we first need to make sure that academic needs of the children are met."
Schachle had pressed for the hiring of two new teachers to alleviate classroom size problems but the board majority voted instead to hire a new administrative assistant, publishing the notice only six days in advance of the actual hiring. Hired was Charles Cooper, a former Grove and Jay coach, without disclosing salary or benefits, who then recommended the hiring of Shane Holland as head football coach, all without the approval of Schachle. It has also been asserted that Holland is Cooper's nephew by marriage.
Julie Miller, legal counsel for the Oklahoma State School Board Association, stated that "the procedures for the search for an 'administrative assistant' should be decided by board action," and further "the board president does not have any legal authority to decide to take those applications home." Board member Steve Lane had told Miller that Mr. Dick's wife had taken "the stack of applications to review himself prior to the rest of the board seeing them at the next scheduled meeting."
According to the State of Oklahoma Accreditation Standards, "the superintendent shall recommend candidates for administrative, support and certified positions."
Current policy lists agenda items of public input at the beginning, and the end of a regular meeting, Lane said, adding that "the board president has decided he doesn't want public input at the beginning, therefore he has just removed it from the agenda." Miller said the board president does not have legal authority to remove "public participation" from the agenda and the issue should be placed on a public agenda at a future meeting for the entire board to discuss.
Another peculiar incident occurred at the June 13 meeting when an audience member, Phyllis Dunaway, asked board member Tom Dick to disclose the contents of a manila envelope he had opened during the meeting. Dick replied that he certainly had not opened an envelope but Dunaway replied that he had, in front of witnesses. He then admitted to opening the envelope and read the heading to the effect, "advertising and search for superintendent." Dunaway asked if the position had been posted and his reply was "no."
Dunaway asserted this week that the Board "is continuing to disregard legal requirements contained in the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act." "The conduct of posted meetings leaves little doubt the members are getting together out of the public's view," she added. She urged the public to become active, concerned participants in this governing process "to assure that the interests of the children are always at the core of every decision and not the hidden agenda of someone sitting on the board or of one manipulating from behind the scenes."
The memo is believed to be a list of do's and don'ts for Schachle during his resignation period, effective June 30, 2007, and if violated would result in his immediate firing.
In the meantime, the school board has enraged Jay parents by hiring a new administrative assistant over the objections of Schachle; accidentally disclosing a document revealing that the board is looking for a replacement for Schachle; possible violations of state school standards, deleting public participation from board meetings, and taking the school system more into the direction of athletics than previously.
The last meeting occurred on June 13 and there was discussion of fire alarms in the school buildings. Board member Warren Shackleford was asked if it wanted Schachle to get them installed, Shackleford replied "not until we see how much it will take to repair the athletic fieldhouse," according to one source.
Schachle had also alerted the board that the school had taken a $10,000 penalty for class size overcrowding and felt that before any new staffing is made to the athletic department "we first need to make sure that academic needs of the children are met."
Schachle had pressed for the hiring of two new teachers to alleviate classroom size problems but the board majority voted instead to hire a new administrative assistant, publishing the notice only six days in advance of the actual hiring. Hired was Charles Cooper, a former Grove and Jay coach, without disclosing salary or benefits, who then recommended the hiring of Shane Holland as head football coach, all without the approval of Schachle. It has also been asserted that Holland is Cooper's nephew by marriage.
Julie Miller, legal counsel for the Oklahoma State School Board Association, stated that "the procedures for the search for an 'administrative assistant' should be decided by board action," and further "the board president does not have any legal authority to decide to take those applications home." Board member Steve Lane had told Miller that Mr. Dick's wife had taken "the stack of applications to review himself prior to the rest of the board seeing them at the next scheduled meeting."
According to the State of Oklahoma Accreditation Standards, "the superintendent shall recommend candidates for administrative, support and certified positions."
Current policy lists agenda items of public input at the beginning, and the end of a regular meeting, Lane said, adding that "the board president has decided he doesn't want public input at the beginning, therefore he has just removed it from the agenda." Miller said the board president does not have legal authority to remove "public participation" from the agenda and the issue should be placed on a public agenda at a future meeting for the entire board to discuss.
Another peculiar incident occurred at the June 13 meeting when an audience member, Phyllis Dunaway, asked board member Tom Dick to disclose the contents of a manila envelope he had opened during the meeting. Dick replied that he certainly had not opened an envelope but Dunaway replied that he had, in front of witnesses. He then admitted to opening the envelope and read the heading to the effect, "advertising and search for superintendent." Dunaway asked if the position had been posted and his reply was "no."
Dunaway asserted this week that the Board "is continuing to disregard legal requirements contained in the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act." "The conduct of posted meetings leaves little doubt the members are getting together out of the public's view," she added. She urged the public to become active, concerned participants in this governing process "to assure that the interests of the children are always at the core of every decision and not the hidden agenda of someone sitting on the board or of one manipulating from behind the scenes."
posted by Editor | 2:05 AM
2 Comments:
The laws covering Open Meetings is fantasy. You've got to be mentally deficient to think Board Members of ANY group don't discuss relative subjects from time to time.
Jay
I am disappointed in the Jay School Board leadership. I believe that Warren Schackelford is being manipulated behind the scenes by Garry Brewster, a former Jay administrator who has broken the law and who is also a member of the same church. Why has the DA not sought charges against Brewster who admitted that he destroyed files that were relevant to the case against the former bus driver who is now in prison for rape and sexual assault? This is the worst scandal I have ever seen in the Jay School System. Does no one have the deceny to step forward and defend Schachle and those who are trying to make a difference in the lives of our children? Does anyone care enough to stand up and speak out for what is right?
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