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Lincoln County School Board approves waiver request so board member's sister may remain assistant principal
Summary
The Lincoln County School Board voted to seek a State Board of Education waiver after finding the district in technical violation of Board policy BI when a board member’s sister holds a leadership post; the board approved sending a resolution and letter to the state.
The Lincoln County School Board voted to approve a request to the State Board of Education that would allow a board member’s relative to remain employed in a district leadership position.
The superintendent—who led the discussion of policy BI—told the board the district is currently in technical violation of the policy because “Mr. Madison is serving Lincoln County and has served Lincoln County in his role,” and his sister, “Ms. McKinney … has had various roles here in the county,” including assistant principal, special education teacher and interim superintendent. The superintendent said the district qualifies to apply for a waiver because it enrolls fewer than 2,800 students and that legal staff had drafted the waiver packet in conjunction with the district attorney.
Why it matters: Board policy BI restricts immediate family members from serving in certain combinations of elected and employed roles; the waiver process allows small, rural districts to seek permission from the State Board of Education to preserve local staffing arrangements while maintaining public transparency.
Board members noted a typographical error in the packet’s citation; during discussion a member read the number as “160-5-1-36,” but a page in the packet listed “132.” Staff acknowledged the typo and said they would correct the citation before filing. The superintendent also said the district had run the required public notice in the local paper (the transcript reads the notice ran for “4 7 days” as stated by staff).
Mr. Madison moved to approve the waiver request; Mr. Daniel seconded. The motion passed with four votes in favor. The superintendent said he would forward the signed resolution and a supporting letter, drafted with the district attorney, to the State Board of Education for review.
The board closed the public hearing and then adjourned the meeting. The State Board will now review the submitted waiver packet on its own timetable.
