Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenter alleges 'fear and intimidation' under former superintendent; calls for accountability
Summary
During public comment a resident alleged sustained harassment and retaliation by the district's recently suspended superintendent and said a federal investigation is under way; the claim was presented as the speaker's account of conversations with current and former employees.
A member of the public used the board's public-comment period Thursday to allege long-standing workplace misconduct under the district's recently suspended superintendent and to call for more accountability.
The speaker, who identified himself as Rick during public comment, described a pattern he said he heard about from district employees: "fear, intimidation, retaliation, and favoritism," and he said those practices were widespread rather than isolated. He said he learned of a federal investigation that began after an employee complaint and questioned whether the issues were rooted in an individual or systemic culture.
"When I first learned of the ongoing federal investigation prompted by a claim from an employee, I found myself asking, is this an isolated incident, or is this something deeper at play? The answer unfortunately became clear," Rick told the board in prepared remarks, which he said summarized conversations with multiple employees.
The speaker named the suspended superintendent, Amy Creedon, and said she had been suspended on Aug. 29 and that a federal inquiry was in progress. He attributed to multiple employees the charge that the superintendent not only tolerated bullying but "recruited and mentored other administrators to manage their departments or schools in the very same way."
The board did not take action on the public comment; the evening's formal business proceeded with routine agenda items and personnel actions. The district did not present any new investigative findings at the meeting. Board members acknowledged the comment period and continued with the agenda. The board has separately voted to appoint outside counsel (Ferrara Fiorenza PC) to provide investigative services earlier in the meeting.
The account offered by the public commenter is an allegation made in open session and reflects that individual's summary of conversations with employees. The board and district did not present corroborating evidence during the meeting; the transcript records the comment as the speaker's statements to the board.
