Crook County School District board acknowledges open-meetings violation, dismisses complaints, declares two vacancies and pauses transportation hire

At a Crook County School District board meeting, the board voted unanimously to send a letter to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission acknowledging that an executive session on Dec. 9 was handled improperly; it dismissed and denied specific complaints related to that session, authorized the business manager to hire outside legal counsel where the district’s existing counsel had a conflict, and declared two board vacancies after two resignations. The board also removed the hiring of a transportation manager from the consent agenda and set a public application process to fill the vacant seats.

The actions address a series of grievances and procedural questions that the board said surfaced since the Dec. 9 executive session. The board accepted legal counsel’s draft letter to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission acknowledging that past practice had not complied with required procedures and instructed staff to send it. The board also dismissed a complaint filed by a member of the public against a former board member on the grounds that a former member cannot be sanctioned, and it voted to reconsider and then deny a separate pending investigation because the subject was no longer on the board.

Board members said recusals by two members left the board without a quorum to act on several other complaints; because the remaining member could not form a quorum, the board took no action on those items. Where its regular counsel was conflicted out because of overlapping interests with High Desert ESD, the board authorized the business manager to contract for outside legal representation and separately voted not to hear a complaint directed at High Desert ESD.

The consent agenda passed with one notable exclusion: the board removed the hiring of a transportation manager (item 6.8) from the consent agenda and approved the remainder of the consent items. Speakers from the district’s transportation staff urged the board to take time to hire a candidate with the required transportation experience; Lisa Wagner, speaking for transportation employees, said, “Filling the position quickly should not outweigh the need to fill it correctly.”

The board also adopted Resolution No. 404-22024-2025 updating signature and authorization designations to remove a prior signatory and add acting superintendent Joel Hough. On personnel and governance, the board announced two resignations and declared vacancies under district policy BBE: Jessica Brumble’s resignation was effective Dec. 10, 2024; Cheyenne Edgerly (transcribed variously as Edgley/Edgerly) resigned effective Jan. 9, 2025. The board voted to post the vacancies and run a public application process: the posting will go live Jan. 15, applications will close Feb. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific, and the board asked applicants to indicate whether they intend to run in the May 2025 election.

To broaden public involvement in selecting replacements, the board approved a citizen review process: each board member will nominate three community members (for a nine-person review committee) to evaluate applicants and recommend candidates. The board noted that the committee’s recommendation would not be binding and that the board itself must make the appointments publicly.

Several reports and updates were presented during the meeting. The district finance presenter said the general fund projection was close to budget but noted that staff had paused some expenditures; the district has published an RFP for auditing services after an audit team split from the previous firm, Polly Rogers. The board discussed and agreed to pause active work on hiring a political consultant for a potential bond measure and to keep the facilities review committee but move the timeline off the current schedule.

Academic and student-service items included a presentation on Advanced Placement and dual-credit opportunities. The district reported growth in AP participation and more dual-credit courses articulated with local colleges; one speaker said the district’s college-going rate rose to 47% for the previous year, up 13 points from 2023. Athletic staff recognized longtime coach Ernie Brooks after national honors: Rob Bonner, athletic director, announced that Brooks had been named NFHS national coach of the year for men’s track and field. Coach Brooks said, “I think I would have been telling people is is the state champion gave us a chance to tell our story and our story about what we've done here. And telling that story put us on the national level.”

On safety, the board heard an update that every school now has naloxone (Narcan) available, some staff have been trained to use an injectable opioid antidote (referred to at the meeting as Zimai), and the district has increased school resource officers to three positions (high school, middle school and a position covering elementary schools). The district reported it has more than 200 security cameras across sites and said administrators are reviewing playground and outdoor coverage and continuing to update door locks, key-card access and building exterior improvements. The administration also described new, scenario-based emergency-drill training intended to make drills more realistic and to test staff response procedures.

Public comment reflected community concern about recent personnel decisions and about board conduct. A senior student asked the board to “support our staff and admin who show up for us every day and allow them to continue caring about us and supporting us.” Other speakers urged the board to finalize a contract for classified staff and to take extra care in hiring leadership positions.

The board set near-term dates and process steps: post vacancies Jan. 15, close applications Feb. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific, and continue policy work sessions (the board rescheduled a policy work session from Jan. 23 to Jan. 22 in the packet discussion). The board closed the meeting after handling scheduled public comment.

Votes at a glance - Send letter acknowledging open-meetings violation to Oregon Government Ethics Commission: motion approved (roll-call: Scott yes, Steve yes, Chair yes). Action: legal staff to send acknowledgement letter. - Dismiss complaint filed by Jake Hoffman/Huffman against former board member(s): motion approved (Scott yes, Steve yes, Chair yes). Outcome: dismissed (board reason: no sanctionable action against resigned member). - Reconsider and deny previous investigation of complaint by Rob Bonner against former board member: motions approved (reconsideration, then denial; roll-call votes unanimous). Outcome: investigation not pursued because the subject is no longer serving. - Do not hear complaint against High Desert ESD: motion approved (unanimous). Outcome: board will not adjudicate complaint against another entity’s employee. - Authorize business manager to contract for outside legal counsel where district counsel is conflicted (related to High Desert ESD matters): motion approved (unanimous). Outcome: business manager to retain outside counsel. - Adopt consent agenda minus item 6.8 (hiring of transportation manager): motion approved (unanimous). Outcome: transportation hire removed for further review. - Adopt Resolution No. 404-22024-2025 updating signature designations (remove Melissa Skinner; add Joel Hough): motion approved (unanimous). - Declare Zone 1 and Zone 3 board positions vacated (resignations of Jessica Brumble and Cheyenne Edgerly/Edgley): motion approved (unanimous). Outcome: vacancies to be posted under policy BBE. - Adopt application form with added question asking whether applicant intends to run in May 2025 election: motion approved (unanimous). - Post vacancies Jan. 15; open 21-day application period closing Feb. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific; appoint nine-person citizen review committee (three nominees from each board member) and have the board chair appoint a committee chair; committee to recommend candidates (non-binding): motion approved (unanimous). - Adopt policy updates EBCA, EBCB and JFCE (student electronic device conduct) with the editorial change from “i.e.” to “e.g.” in a clause: motion approved (unanimous).

Speakers (selected, as identified in the meeting transcript) - Rob Bonner, athletic director (Crook County School District staff) - Ernie Brooks, coach (recognized; Crook County School District athletics) - Joel Hough, acting superintendent (Crook County School District staff) - Anna (identified in the meeting as “Miss Anna”), business/finance staff (presented finance report and audit RFP) - Leland Bliss, safety staff (presented safety update) - Dr. Joel Hoff (presented on bullying and student supports) - Tammy Prescott (public commenter) - Natalia Kress, senior student (public commenter) - Lisa Wagner, transportation department employee (public commenter) - Rocky Minor, community member (public commenter) - John Tomlinson, community member (public commenter) - Scott (board member) - Steve (board member) - Jennifer (board chair; referenced by name during public comment)

Authorities referenced - Oregon Government Ethics Commission (other): referenced in the board motion to send an acknowledgement letter regarding an executive-session procedure. - District policy BBE (filling board vacancies): referenced in the announcements and vacancy process. - District policy BDDH (public comment procedures): cited during the public comment period instructions. - Resolution No. 404-22024-2025 (resolution): updated designations and authorizations for district signature authority; referenced by motion. - District policy EBCA, EBCB, JFCE (policy updates adopted): referenced during policy adoption.

Actions (structured) [{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Adopt agenda with additions: move public comments to bottom, remove hiring of Jessica Brumble, add discussion of work session and reconsideration item","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"simple majority"},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Agenda adopted with modifications; hiring of Jessica Brumble removed pending investigation outcome"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Send draft letter from legal counsel to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission acknowledging that the Dec. 9 executive session was held without required procedures","mover":"legal staff (not specified)","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Board instructed staff to send acknowledgment"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Dismiss complaint from Jake Hoffman/Huffman alleging improper discussion of employment performance in executive session","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Dismissal based on inability to sanction former board member and lack of official executive-session transcript as district evidence"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Reconsider prior action to investigate complaint by Rob Bonner against former board member; then move to deny the complaint because the subject is no longer serving","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"reconsideration approved; denial of complaint approved","notes":"Board voted to reconsider then deny investigation"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Do not hear complaint against High Desert ESD (district concluded it cannot act against another entity’s employee)","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Board declined to hear matter involving another entity’s employee"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Authorize business manager to contract for outside legal counsel to handle matters where regular counsel is conflicted","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Business manager authorized to retain outside counsel"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Adopt consent agenda minus item 6.8 (hiring of transportation manager)","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Transportation manager hiring removed for further consideration"},{"kind":"resolution","identifiers":{"resolution_number":"404-22024-2025"},"motion":"Adopt updated resolution on designations and authorizations (remove Melissa Skinner; add Joel Hough)","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Updated signature authority adopted"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Declare Zone 1 and Zone 3 board positions vacated due to resignations of Jessica Brumble and Cheyenne Edgerly/Edgley","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Vacancies to be filled by board appointment per policy BBE"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Adopt application form with added question asking whether the applicant intends to run for election in May 2025","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Application to include candidate intent question"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Post vacancies Jan. 15; open a 21-day application period; close Feb. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific; appoint a nine-person citizen review committee (three nominees per board member) with a chair appointed by the board chair; committee to recommend candidates (non-binding)","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Publication and committee process established"},{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Adopt policy updates EBCA, EBCB and JFCE (student electronic device policy) with editorial change from 'i.e.' to 'e.g.'","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Scott","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Steve","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Jennifer (chair)","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Policy updates adopted as presented"}]