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Residents and former colleagues defend Dexter teacher as board moves to closed session on tenure charges
Summary
Dozens of residents, former colleagues and parents spoke in support of Catherine Kuzma during public comment at the Dexter Community School District board meeting, urging the board to retain her. The board voted to enter closed session at the employee's request to consider proposed tenure charges under the Open Meetings Act.
Dozens of residents, former colleagues and parents spoke in defense of teacher Catherine Kuzma during public comment at a Dexter Community School District Board of Education meeting, and the board moved into closed session to consider proposed tenure charges at the employee’s request.
Speakers including former Stockbridge superintendent Bruce Brown, former district employee Deanne Dunn and several former colleagues described Kuzma as a dedicated teacher and coach and urged the board to retain her. Bruce Brown said the allegations did not fit the person he knew and "I would urge you to continue her teaching employment." Sydney Lance, a former Stockbridge school board member, said snippets of emails can be taken out of context and questioned use of the term "grooming," saying she was "almost confident" Kuzma did not understand the word as it was being used against her.
Public commenters recounted long-term relationships between Kuzma and students, cited letters of support, and described her work as a teacher and coach over many years. Multiple speakers, including parents and former colleagues, urged the board to consider context and the teacher’s record before taking personnel action.
The board voted to enter closed session to discuss proposed tenure charges "at the request of the employee pursuant to section 8...of the Open Meetings Act," according to a motion read on the record. The motion was moved and seconded and approved by the board; the board did not state further details about the charges in open session. Under the Open Meetings Act, personnel deliberations in which an employee requests a closed session may be discussed without the public.
Speakers also raised process concerns: Sydney Lance said Kuzma received the full text of the charges only 24 hours before the meeting and questioned whether snippets of emails were presented out of context. Commenters asked why restrictions were placed on Kuzma’s presence on school property and on her continuing community activities, and urged the board to allow time for fuller review and response.
Following public comment the board completed routine business and recessed into the closed session described in the motion. The board did not announce any final personnel action in open session at the time the meeting record ended.
The board's closed-session deliberations and any subsequent personnel action will be announced in accordance with district policy and state law if and when the board chooses to do so.
