Resident alleges corruption of superintendent; board member calls claims not credible

Juan Gonzales addressed the Lebanon City Schools Board of Education during the public-comment period on Dec. 16, alleging corruption by the superintendent (named in his remarks as Isaac Seaver) and accusing the board of tolerating those actions. Gonzales criticized police presence at meetings as intimidating, said he had received a report that a student's assault on video had not been addressed, and said he was compiling documentation and would speak to residents in public forums.

Gonzales told trustees he had “more than enough documentation from over 300 people … screenshots of their stories,” and indicated he plans to campaign for different board candidates. His remarks included repeated assertions that there had been no real investigation into bullying concerns and that the superintendent tried to "hijack the narrative." He also criticized a board member for selling frozen custard and said the board prioritized personal gain over protecting students.

At the end of the meeting, a board member (speaker identified in the transcript as speaker 3) responded directly to the public comment, saying they did not share the speaker’s views, called the allegations “not credible” and “ridiculous,” and praised the district’s modernization of its transportation fleet. Other trustees offered praise for district career experiences and student programs.

The board did not take any formal disciplinary or investigatory action during the meeting in response to the remarks; the meeting proceeded with routine agenda business and votes. The superintendent was referenced repeatedly in the speaker’s allegations but did not make a public response during the open meeting.

Next steps: no formal board inquiry or further action was announced on Dec. 16; the board moved on to routine consent and budget items.