Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Allegations And Superintendent Investigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge Pendleton County Schools to investigate alleged staff misconduct and seek review of superintendent
Summary
At a Pendleton County Schools meeting, three public commenters accused school staff of mishandling allegations of student abuse and presented a 402-signature petition asking the board to consider suspending the superintendent's contract pending an independent investigation. The board listened but took no formal action during public comment.
Jamie Mitchell, identified by the meeting chair for public comment, told the Pendleton County Schools board she had been "disturbed" after learning this week of multiple incidents in which students were "******** inappropriately touched in this school this week," and said she understood parents had previously raised concerns that did not result in corrective action.
"In each case that I could think of, nothing was done," Mitchell said, adding that parents provided text messages she said show a teacher admitting inappropriate contact. Mitchell asked the board why staff did not call police when allegations were first reported and said a petition with more than 400 signatures opposes keeping the current superintendent in office.
Mark Delafson, who introduced himself as a concerned taxpayer, handed each board member a copy of a change.org petition and said he had a list of "402 verifiable signatures" that question the county superintendent's performance. "Considering community's loss of confidence in their fitness for the position, I would like to encourage this board to follow legal avenues ... to delay, retract, suspend, the current contract until an independent investigation ... can be conducted," Delafson said.
Joshua Van Meter, who said he has six children and would not be sending them to school next year, recounted family experiences with several Child Protective Services calls that he described as "a load of bull" and blamed what he characterized as aggressive questioning of students by school staff. Van Meter said some families now send children to other districts out of fear of repeated CPS involvement.
The meeting record shows the board listened to the public commenters but did not respond to allegations during the public comment period. The petition and public remarks were entered into the record; the transcript does not show the board taking immediate investigatory or disciplinary action at this meeting.
Superintendent and board next steps noted elsewhere on the agenda: principal interviews will continue on July 2 and the board is scheduled to meet again July 6, when procedural and personnel items will be considered. The petitioners asked the board to pursue an independent review and, if warranted, to consider contractual actions against the superintendent.
