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Board says investigation found allegations against superintendent unfounded; residents urge independent probe
Summary
The Eastpointe Community Schools board read a statement saying a law-firm investigation found accusations made by a staff member against Superintendent Christina Gibson unfounded. Residents at public comment urged an independent investigator and questioned whether the district adequately protected staff who raise concerns.
The board read a public statement that a law firm hired by the district, Clark Hill PLC, investigated allegations made by special education teacher Michael Riley that Superintendent Christina Gibson had an inappropriate personal relationship with former athletic director Russell Ball and had engaged in racism, corruption and misuse of employee evaluations. The statement said investigators reviewed emails, personnel files and text messages and interviewed staff and concluded the accusations were "unfounded and patently false."
The district's statement said investigators found Riley initially refused to participate in the probe, declined to provide sources or evidence, and, when asked about the affair allegation, answered, "none"; investigators quoted Riley as saying, "I don't really care." The statement said Riley had no emails, texts or documents to support his claims and never witnessed the alleged conduct directly.
Superintendent Christina Gibson denied the allegations in the meeting, saying she has never had a relationship outside her marriage and that employee evaluations are intended to support staff improvement, not to discriminate. Former athletic director Russell Ball also denied any personal relationship with Gibson outside their professional roles.
Several residents used public comment to respond. Riola Hammond asked whether the board had met its fiduciary responsibilities and said unresolved lawsuits and allegations harm community and staff morale. Cindy Federly thanked the district's security officer and urged the board to hire an independent investigator, saying she considered it a conflict of interest for a law firm that represents the district to investigate employee accusations against district leadership. Federly said the teacher's allegations are part of court filings that residents can look up.
Board members framed the statement as the district's formal account of the investigation and invited the public to raise further questions at future hearings. The board also cautioned against making "personal reproachful attacks" that an investigation might expose as false.
The meeting record shows the district concluded the accusations were not substantiated and described Riley as unwilling to provide evidence when interviewed. The board did not take a formal disciplinary action against Riley during the open meeting; later in the agenda members voted to enter closed session for a separate student-discipline hearing.
