Former employee, community group present survey alleging nepotism and toxic work climate at New Albany-Floyd County Schools

Jeanette Bush, a former New Albany-Floyd County Schools employee, and Chris Miles, chairperson of the Community Diversity Council, used the board’s public-comment period to raise allegations of nepotism and a problematic workplace culture and to request an administrative review.

Bush, who identified herself as a former facilities employee, told the board she resigned Aug. 16, 2023, and said she had informed Superintendent Dr. Madison by email about “pertinent information” involving a district employee and that her resignation letter had gone unanswered. “Anyone who does not believe that there is nepotism going on, I would have to disagree from personal experience,” Bush said, adding that she and other grounds employees were spoken to in a manner that suggested protected status for the family in question.

Chris Miles said he had circulated an anonymous survey to gather community and staff views after speaking at the prior meeting and presented aggregated results to the board. “Tonight I get to speak on behalf of 163 individuals who chose to participate,” Miles said. He read several itemized results from the survey: when asked whether the person in question had conducted themselves professionally, 162 respondents answered that question (5 yes, 150 no, 7 not sure); when asked whether nepotism had played a role in increasing a husband’s salary from $21,000 to $90,000, 156 of 163 respondents answered “yes.” On whether staff or others should be placed on administrative leave while an investigation occurred, 157 of 163 respondents said yes.

Miles asked the board to place the identified employee on immediate administrative leave so the board could “authentically conduct an evaluation and review of potential nepotism infringement as well as detrimental work environment conduct.” He framed the request as intended to give staff the confidence to provide information without fear of retribution.

The board did not take an immediate action on the request during the public-comment portion. The presiding officer reminded speakers of the three-minute limit and the board’s public-comment policy (0167.3) that governs decorum and topics the board will hear.

No district official offered a substantive response on the record to the survey’s claims during the meeting. The record shows the statements and the survey results were put on the public record during the allotted comment time; no motion or vote followed the presentations.