[00:00:04]
>> JEFF, ARE WE GOOD? GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE AND WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO MY FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>>> WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER THAT IS ZOOMING IN DUE TO A CONFLICT. SARAH PARKS-REESE, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US ALL?
>> YES, I AM. >> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO GET STARTED ON IS THANKING YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT IS HUMBLING AND IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. BEFORE WE MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA , I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE PREVENTED -- PRESENTED SEVERAL CHALLENGES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE IT PRESENTS US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE TO COME TOGETHER AND COLLECTIVELY IDENTIFY POP FORWARD. TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. CHANGE IS NEVER EASY. BUT IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO NAVIGATE IT TOGETHER. AS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY FELLOW TRUSTEES AND WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, STAFF MY FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS TO STRENGTHEN AND UNITE HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN. I KNOW THAT ALL THE TRUSTEES WHO SAT BESIDE ME AND ALSO BY ZOOM ARE SIMILARLY INVESTED. OUR FIRST FOCUS WILL ALWAYS BE TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR PATHWAYS AT A HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREERS AND LIFE. THESE GOALS TAKE A VILLAGE. I AM CONSISTENTLY GRATEFUL FOR THE UNWAVERING PASSION AND SUPPORT THE STUDENTS RECEIVE FROM THE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD UPON AND I KNOW A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR
[2. Public Comment]
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN SCHOOLS. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP. WITH THAT, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES IN WHICH TO MAKE A COMMENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. PLEASE GIVE THE BOARD AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AND NO THIS IS NOT TIME MEANT TO ENGAGE IN THE PAPER TO INFORM. THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE, THREATENING STATEMENTS ARE PERSONAL TAX. COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO A BOARD AND NOT AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER. WITH THAT, THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS STEPHANIE HUNT .>> HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD. I AM HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE BLACK EDUCATORS WHO CANNOT SPEAK OUT FOR THEMSELVES FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION. THE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR YOU HAVE DISPLAYED SINCE BEING ELECTED IS BEYOND CONCERNING. BEFORE SEVERAL OF YOU TOOK THE ROLE, SOME IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SOME OF YOU EXPRESSED ISSUES WITH THE HIRING OF DR. YVONNE STOKES AND WITH HAVING A DEI OFFICER . SINCE BEING ELECTED THE SPORT HAS DENIED A MENTAL HEALTH GRANT EVEN DENY ANOTHER STUDENTS WANTING TO COME HERE FOR SUPPORT. THE BOARD MEMBER MADE A COMMENT ON HIRING ONLY THOSE WITH MIDWEST VALUES AND YOU MADE IT CLEAR YOU THINK DIVERSITY HIRING IS RACE RELATED AND ARE TAKING ISSUE WITH HBCUS AND CINCINNATI RECRUITING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR THE SCHOOLS. DR.
STOKES HAD TO INTERVENE AND EDUCATE THE IGNORANCE OF THE STATEMENTS MADE THAT DAY. INTERESTINGLY SHE WAS THEN MOVED TO THE SIDE AFTER THAT MEETING. NEXT CAME THE PLOTTING TO REMOVE MICRO AGGRESSIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND COMING TO THE MEETING WITH A WRITTEN OUT WEEKLY REPLACEMENT TO PROTECT THE WHITE KIDS FROM BEING EDUCATED WHEN THEY MAKE A MISTAKE OR SHORT BLATANT RACISM. YOU WERE TOLD AND SOLID YOUR LIVES IN THE MEETING THAT THE WHITE KIDS AND HSE ARE NOT BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY DISCIPLINED AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT YOU DO NOT WANT A PLAN AT HSE. AND HAVE GONE SO FAR IN THIS POLITICAL GAME THAT YOU REFUSED TO RENEW CONTRACTS FOR FIVE ADMINISTRATORS UNDER DR. STOKES AND THREE OF WHICH ARE BLACK EDUCATORS AND OLD WORLD AWARE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO REMOVE THE DEI DIRECTOR. THE
[00:05:03]
TRUTH IS DR. STOKES IS NOT WANTED BY YOU BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED AND YOU EVEN SHAMED HER BY MOVING HER TO THE END OF THE TABLE AND ESSENTIALLY SILENCED HER AND DISRESPECTED HER. WE SAW IT AND IT WAS NOT A SLY MOVE NOW YOU COMPLETE THE EMBARRASSMENT BY HIDING THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING SO YOU CAN CONTROL THE NARRATIVE RELEASED TO THE MEDIA. DR.STOKES DID NOT RESIGN. HER CONTRACT WAS BOUGHT UP BY FIVE PHYSICALLY CONSERVATIVE FOCUS BOARD MEMBERS IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REFERENDUMS OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR.
OR FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE HERE AND YOU'RE FORCED THE RESIGNATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF A REFERENDUM THAT YOU SUPPOSEDLY SUPPORT AND IT FEELS LIKE SABOTAGE FOR THE SCHOOLS. A FRIEND HAS MENTIONED EDUCATOR WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SCHOOL CONDITIONS AND FIVE OF YOUR RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT AND COULD EVEN BE SAID THAT YOU HAVE CREATED A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF THE EDUCATORS WHILE YOU ARE LEADERS CONTINUE TO TRY TO DISMANTLE A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WAS DOING PHENOMENALLY WELL PRIOR TO YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND I HAVE WORKED HARD TO COMBAT YOUR UGLY WITH HELP FROM MANY AND A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO SHOW LOVE TO EDUCATORS AND WE HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND CALL TO ATTENTION THE CLEAR ISSUE THE SPORT HAS WITH BLACK AND MINORITY EDUCATORS. DR. PETTIGREW, WE SEE YOU.
>> NEXT UP, LYDIA STANLEY. >> I'M LYDIA STANLEY. I'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL A FEW TIMES NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF FISSURES FOR OVER A DECADE. THE PLATFORM YOU ALL RAN ON IS TRANSPARENCY AND BEING FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, FORCING THE RESIGNATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED , DOWNRIGHT ASHAMED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST THOSE WHOSE PARENTS PRESCRIBED TO ANY OTHER GROUP. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. STOKES FOR PUTTING UP WITH OUR NONSENSE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
>> ABBEY TAYLOR. >> HI, ABBEY TAYLOR HS CA PRESIDENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. STOKES FOR HER SERVICE THESE PAST TWO YEARS, HER SUPPORTIVE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HER TIRELESS WORK . WE WISH HER WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DR. MATT KEGLEY AS HE STEPS INTO HIS NEW ROLE. HS CA WANTS TO EXPRESS CONTINUED FRUSTRATION WITH THE PROCESS BY WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS HANDLED , AN UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH NO CONTEXT OR AGENDA WAS ANNOUNCED WITH AN UNUSUAL START TIME PREVENTING MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM ATTENDING , ESPECIALLY TEACHERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS TIMEFRAME. RESULTING IN A SERIES OF RUMORS AND SPECULATIONS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONTINUED DISTRUST IN THE BOARD MEMBERS WHICH IMPACTS ALL TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT FESTERS IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION AND IS A MASSIVE DISSERVICE TO TEACHERS WHO ARE LOOKING RIGHT NOW FOR STABILITY IN CENTRAL OFFICE AND IN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DURING A DESPERATELY NEEDED REFERENDUM. WHILE WE ARE FRUSTRATED THAT TEACHER VOICES CONTINUE TO BE SUPPRESSED, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DR.
MATT KEGLEY AS THE HEAD OF OUR DISTRICT AND LOOK TO HIM AS A CONTINUED ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AS A PARTNER IN DISCUSSION AND BARGAINING. DISCUSSION IS THE MOST VITAL PROCESS ALL TEACHERS HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND FOR THEMSELVES AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE PATTERNING OR THE PARTNERING WITH DR. MATT KEGLEY IN THE VITAL PROCESS WILL BE WHAT INVESTS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO CONTINUE MAKING HSE SCHOOLS THE PREMIER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IT STRIVES
TO BE. >> THANK YOU. MOVING TO THE
[3. Consent Agenda]
CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE ONE ITEM WHICH IS A TWO-YEAR[00:10:04]
CONTRACT EXTENSION AND STIPEND FOR EACH WEEK THAT DR. MATT KEGLEY SERVES IN OUR DISTRICT IN THE ROLE OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR DR. MATT
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE . ANY OPPOSED SAY NAY . OF THE
[4. Action Items]
MOTION IS APPROVED. MOVE INTO ACTION ITEM 4.01, SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF SEPARATION AGREEMENT. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE LEGAL COUNSEL FORFURTHER DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THE ACTION ITEM WHICH IS THE RESIGNATION OF SUPERINTENDENT DR. YVONNE STOKES AND THE AGREEMENT THAT COINCIDES WITH HER RESIGNATION. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS CONTACTED BY HER LEGAL COUNSEL TO BEGIN DISCUSSING THE RESIGNATION AND SEPARATION FROM THE SCHOOL CORPORATION. I SPENT A GREATER PORTION OF LAST TWO WEEKS WORKING WITH THE LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE BOARD LEADERSHIP WHICH CULMINATED IN AN AGREEMENT THAT IS NOW BEFORE YOU HERE THIS MORNING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
A SUMMARY OF THE SUBSTANTIVE TERMS ARE POSTED TO THE AGENDA THIS MORNING WHILE THE BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE CONFIDENTIAL COPY OF THE FULL AGREEMENT. I WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WALK THE BOARD THROUGH THE FULL DETAILS OF THE RESIGNATION AND THE AGREEMENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU. THE RESIGNATION IS EFFECTIVE TODAY AND WITH THAT RESIGNATION, THE SCHOOL CORPORATION HAS GENERALLY AGREED TO PAY DR.
STOKES IN FULL FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF HER CONTRACT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. DR. STOKES WILL RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF HER SALARY FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT AND WILL RECEIVE HER ANNUITY WHICH IS A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION THAT THE SCHOOL MAKES EACH YEAR PURSUANT TO THE CONTRACT. SHE WILL BE PAID FOR CERTAIN UNUSED SICK AND VACATION DAYS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES. DR. STOKES IS A LEGIBLE FOR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FROM THE CORPORATION THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024 WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL TERM OF HER CONTRACT.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS WILL CEASE IF DR. STOKES BEGINS EMPLOYMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE PRIOR TO JUNE 30, 2024 . AS IS STANDARD WITH THE EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER SEPARATION AGREEMENTS, THE AGREEMENT DOES CONTAIN MUTUAL RELEASES AND BOTH PARTIES WILL FOREVER DISCHARGE AND WAIVE ALL CLAIMS AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE AGREEMENT CONTAINS MUTUAL COVENANTS THAT PARTIES WILL NOT SUE EACH OTHER . THE AGREEMENT CONTAINS A FUTURE ASSISTANCE CLAUSE WHERE DR. STOKES HAS AGREED TO MAKE HER AVAILABLE TO ME IS THE LEGAL COUNSEL ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS TO RESPOND TO ANY LEGAL MATTERS THAT MAY -- SHE MAY BE IN POSITION TO ASSIST WITH FROM HER TENURE YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT. FINALLY, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AS AN ATTORNEY, IT'S NEVER LOST UPON ME THAT IT ALWAYS TAKES TWO PARTIES TO REACH AN AGREEMENT AND I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS REGARDING TRANSPARENCY AND ACTIONS HERE THIS MORNING BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS EVERY ACTION WE HAVE TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN HAS BEEN IN STRICT CONFORMITY WITH THE AGREEMENT WE REACHED THAT IS BEFORE YOU HERE THIS MORNING . WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> OPENING UP FOR THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS ON
THE AGREEMENT. >> CAN YOU CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME WHEN YOU WERE APPROACHED WITH THIS MATTER?
>> CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? >> CAN YOU CONFIRM ONE MORE TIME WHEN YOU WERE APPROACHED BY THIS MATTER?
>> APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE FINALLY RECEIVED THE AGREEMENT AND IT IS A LOT TO READ AND TAKE IN. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME YOU PUT INTO IT. LIKE YOU SAID, IT TAKES TWO PARTIES SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK AND IT IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH AND IT APPEARS FAIR SO I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU. >> SARAH PARKS-REESE, DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ONLINE ? >> I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY TO THE ATTORNEY BUT I WANT TO THANK DR. STOKES AND WELCOME DR. MATT KEGLEY .
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS , DO I HAVE A MOTION
[00:15:06]
TO APPROVE DR. STOKES RESIGNATION AN AGREEMENT ASPRESENTED? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNATION AND ACCEPTANCE SEPARATION AGREEMENT
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE DESIGNATION OF DR. MATT KEGLEY
AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT . >> IT'S A SEPARATE ACTION SO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THIS ONE. AS WE HAVE SARAH PARKS-REESE ZOOMING IN LET'S TAKE US BY ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> CALLING FOR A VOTE. >> MY YES BUT TODAY IS NOT ONE THAT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH PROCESS AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN DONE NOR THE FACT THAT SHE IS NOT CONTINUING TO FULFILL THE LAST YEAR FOR CONTRACT THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF DR. STOKES AND
>> SARAH PARKS-REESE? >> I ECHO THE COMMENT AND
WILL VOTE YES. >> THE MOTION PASSES. MOVING TO ITEM 4.02, DESIGNATION OF DR. MATT KEGLEY AS INTERIM
SUPERINTENDENT. >> THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION OFFICIALLY DESIGNATING DR. MATT KEGLEY AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL RUN INDEFINITELY UNTIL SUCH TIME WHEN THE BOARD SELECTS A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT OR OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY THE BOARD. THE RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGES THAT DR. MATT KEGLEY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PERFORM ALL DUTIES WHICH ARE CUSTOMARILY AND USUALLY CONSIDERED WITHIN THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIANA PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND THRALL POWERS OF AUTHORITY BESTOWED UPON THE SUPERINTENDENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD POLICY AND INDIANA LAW. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INTERIM PERIOD, THE BOARD WILL SIMPLY BRING FORWARD A RESOLUTION REMOVING THE INTERIM DESIGNATION AND THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES THAT WERE BUSTED WITH IT TO DR. MATT KEGLEY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
YOU AGAIN FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND THANK YOU DR.
MATT KEGLEY FOR STEPPING UP TO LEAD US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU . >> SARAH PARKS-REESE, DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I DO NOT.
>> WITH THAT, DRY THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS
PRESENTED? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE DESIGNATION OF DR. MATT KEGLEY AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AS
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD ON THIS? I'M GOING TO CLOSE AND CALL FOR A VOTE.
7-0. AS WE LOOK TO CLOSE THIS MEETING, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND THANKS FOR DR. STOKES AND HER LEADERSHIP. IT'S A CRUCIAL TIME DURING THE DISTRICT 'S HISTORY AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE AND DEDICATION. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DR. MATT KEGLEY FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS HE ASSUMES NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. HE IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO LEAD HSE DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT HIM DURING THIS TIME.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 AT 7:00 PM AT THIS LOCATION
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.