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Residents press board on staff bullying allegations, policy gaps and questioned use of district funds
Summary
Two community members urged the board to review employee policies, investigate alleged staff bullying and provide transparency about an alleged board member misuse of district credit cards; the superintendent and board said administration will follow up with the speakers.
Two members of the public used the board’s community-comment period to call for a comprehensive policy review and to raise allegations about district staff behavior and fiscal oversight.
Rishma Holt said she had reviewed the district’s employee policies and found “significant delivery of service gaps, especially in areas like ethical behavior, professional conduct, and workplace drug and alcohol testing.” She urged the board to revise policies to improve clarity, oversight and staff training and asked for a written response within 10 days; the transcript records that she provided her contact information to the clerk.
Pamela Penn Hicks detailed what she called a “pattern and practice” of bullying by staff, saying the behavior had led to “90 students [walking] out of Washington High School in response to the return of a teacher who repeatedly violated the employee policy against bullying by staff.” She described an incident on a field trip she said left three students abandoned and alleged a lack of timely and transparent responses when parents raise concerns. Penn Hicks asked the board to rescind the Washington High School employee’s resignation and instead terminate that employee for cause; she also raised concerns that a sitting board member had repeatedly violated the district credit card policy and asked for public evidence of repayment.
Board leadership and administration told the speakers they would follow up. Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield acknowledged receipt of materials that one speaker had submitted and staff said the board office and administration would contact the individuals for further information and follow-up. The board clerk confirmed she would forward submitted materials to the full board.
No formal board action was taken on the issues during the meeting. Several public speakers asked for transparency and corrective action; administrators pledged to communicate with the individuals after the meeting.
