Board upholds superintendent in Level III grievance after executive session

The Klamath Falls City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 11 to uphold Superintendent Keith Brown’s decision in a Level III grievance after returning from a closed executive session.

Board Chair Andrew Biggs announced the meeting would recess to executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations related to labor negotiations and a grievance. The board heard testimony from multiple KFACE staff members, conferred with Del Mallory via Zoom, and permitted Lisa Danskin to provide remarks during the closed session. No deliberations from the executive session were disclosed publicly, in keeping with the statutory confidentiality that governs labor and grievance discussions.

After returning to open session, Kathy Hewitt moved to uphold the superintendent’s decision; Vanessa Bennett seconded. Chair Andrew Biggs called for discussion, heard none, and the board recorded affirmative votes from Andrea Jensen, Andrew Biggs, Nicole Trejo, Vanessa Bennett and Kathy Hewitt. The motion carried and the board announced the outcome publicly.

The board’s formal action resolves the matter insofar as the district’s public record shows a decision to uphold the superintendent’s prior ruling. The minutes note the board consented to receive testimony from five KFACE staff members (one declined to speak) and that representatives of the media and designated staff were allowed to attend the executive session, consistent with the public-notice language read before the recess. No further details of the closed deliberations were released.