Dozens of residents protest Brookings High principal's removal during public comment

Dozens of parents, alumni and former students used the public-comment portion of the Brookings School District 05-1 board meeting to press the board for more information and to criticize the district for removing Brookings High School principal Justin Stanley.

Rich Helzberg, the district attorney, told the meeting: “The board, under no circumstances, will respond to any personnel issues brought up today.” He reminded speakers that personnel matters are governed by South Dakota law and that the board handles such matters in executive session until any formal action is taken.

Members of the public said they did not expect details but called for clearer communication and for the board to consider the impact of the decision on students and families. Sheila Shore, who identified herself as a parent, said she stood “with Justin Stanley” while also raising a separate concern about how her child’s IEP and discipline were handled during athletics.

Multiple speakers described Stanley as a student advocate. Shannon Lore read a letter from Malachi Ramsey, identified in the recording as a former Brookings High School student now serving in the Navy, that said Stanley “believed in me” and helped Ramsey graduate. Christianne Behringer said Stanley “wouldn’t give up on” her son when he was “going down the wrong path.” Several other speakers made similar statements about Stanley’s outreach to students and families.

Some commenters urged the board to explain whether other administrators were held accountable when Stanley allegedly missed required evaluations. Nicole Weir, a parent of an incoming sophomore, asked: “If he got fired for not having an eval done, where was the person above him checking to make sure it was done?”

Morgan Kuntz, who identified herself as a school board member in another district, said the community response showed unity in support for the removed leader and called on the board to consider the decision’s impact on public confidence. Kuntz also raised a conflict-of-interest concern she said related to legal counsel; the transcript records the concern but provides no documentary detail.

Tricia Wilkins, who said she works for South Dakota Parent Connection and has children in the district, asked whether Stanley had been given the opportunity and supports to change if remediation was appropriate. Other speakers said they feared the removal would prompt families to withdraw students from the district.

The board did not discuss personnel specifics in public; the transcript shows the board had moved into an executive session on a personnel item earlier in the meeting pursuant to South Dakota law. The district did not state reasons for Stanley’s removal during the public session recorded in the transcript.

The meeting record shows the public-comment period concluded and the board moved on to business items without providing detailed public answers about the personnel action.