Parents criticize district communication and call for clarity on superintendent status after lockdown

A parent at the Oxford Area Board of School Directors’ Sept. 16 meeting said the district failed to communicate with families during a Sept. 11 lockdown and urged immediate action from the board to restore trust and clarify leadership.

Lindsay Johnson told the board that during the lockdown “not an email, not a text, nothing” was sent to families. “That silence was unacceptable,” Johnson said. She said in that moment the district should both protect students and keep families informed.

Johnson also criticized what she described as broader instability in district leadership. She recounted the superintendent’s earlier resignation and subsequent rescission and said the board has not held a public vote to clarify the superintendent’s status. “This board must act to restore confidence and accountability by releasing all legal opinions regarding the superintendent's resignation and rescission,” she said, asking the board to hold a public vote to clarify Dr. Woods’ status.

Johnson said the silence during the lockdown exacerbated community anxiety and that families learned about the incident from police scanners and students rather than official district communications. She also urged the board to establish “clear emergency protocols so that during events like last week's lockdown, families receive immediate and transparent communication.”

Board members did not vote on the specific remedies Johnson requested during the Sept. 16 meeting. Superintendent David Woods and other administrators presented routine reports at the meeting, including an update on 9/11 remembrances at district schools, but did not announce new notification procedures or a legal opinion release on superintendent employment status during the public meeting.