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Coquille SD 8 board holds executive session after complaints alleging improper disclosure; no action pending investigation
Summary
At a Nov. 6 special meeting, the Coquille School District #8 board entered executive session to consider complaints alleging a board member shared personally identifiable information and a separate complaint against the superintendent and board chair; the board said it would take no action until an investigation is completed.
The Coquille School District #8 board met for a special session on Nov. 6, 2023, and moved into executive session to consider complaints alleging the inappropriate disclosure of personally identifiable information by a board member and a separate complaint naming the superintendent and the board chair. The board returned to open session and said it would not take any disciplinary action until an investigation is completed.
Board Chair Melinda Millet called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. in the district board room at 970 N. Central Blvd. Present were board members Cliff Wheeler, Melinda Millet, Marsha Frost, Heather Echavarria and Vice Chair Julie Nighswonger; Steve Britton arrived late and Lucas Taylor was absent. Superintendent Wayne Gallagher, Fiscal Director Rachel Amos and Board Secretary Julie Simpson were in attendance.
Vice Chair Julie Nighswonger moved to approve the agenda; Heather Echavarria seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board noted upcoming meetings: a Nov. 15 work session at 5:00 p.m. and a Nov. 15 regular meeting at 6:00 p.m., with the next regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 17, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
During the board report portion of the minutes, Chair Millet noted a complaint from the CEA alleging inappropriate behavior by a board member related to personally identifiable information. Vice Chair Nighswonger reported a second complaint against the superintendent and the board chair, alleging the sharing of private information at the Oct. 18, 2023, board meeting. The minutes do not provide further factual detail about the substance of the allegations.
At 6:07 p.m. the board recessed briefly and convened an executive session citing Oregon statute ORS 192.660(2)(b) to consider dismissal or discipline or to hear charges or complaints against an officer or employee when the individual does not request an open hearing; the minutes also cite the exemptions in subsections (f) and (k) for exempt records and investigatory information. The board recessed for five minutes and reconvened in Superintendent Gallagher’s office for the closed session.
The board returned to open session at 7:09 p.m. and the Vice Chair stated that the board would not take any action against the superintendent or the board chair until an investigation is conducted. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. by Chair Millet.
The minutes included as part of the record list those present and note the complaints but do not record any formal disciplinary action or details of the investigation timeline.
