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Croswell-Lexington Community Schools recall, Michigan (2016)
| Croswell-Lexington Community Schools recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Lyle Clarkson Laurie Ebner Katie Gordon |
| Recall status |
Resigned |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall four members from their positions on the Croswell-Lexington Community Schools Board of Education in Michigan began in May 2016, but it was dropped in September 2016 after two of the members resigned from office. Recall supporters targeted Linda France, Lyle Clarkson, Laurie Ebner, and Katie Gordon in response to alleged violations of the Michigan Open Meetings Act during a school board meeting on May 17, 2016. France and Ebner resigned from office in September 2016.[1][2]
At the school board meeting on May 17, 2016, three of the four principals in the district submitted resignations, and all three were accepted by the school board. Though school board members did not comment on the reasons for the resignations during the board meeting, it was later revealed by the Michigan Department of Education that the school district had been fined $107,300 in state aid due to the principals lacking proper administrator certifications.[2][3]
Croswell-Lexington Superintendent Julie Western confirmed the principals' resignations had been submitted as a result of the fine from the state. She said it had been their responsibility to maintain their credentials and that they had been notified of that responsibility. A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education said the district had notified the state of the missing certifications, which triggered the investigation and resulting fine.[2] Western was later let go from her position by the school board after the three principals published an open letter to the community. Though they took responsibility for their certifications not being up to date, the principals also said they had not been contacted about them until March 2016. The district was fined by the state for the principals not having the certifications from October 2015 to March 2016.[4]
The first recall petition submitted was rejected in a clarity hearing on August 11, 2016.[5] Recall supporters tried again by filing a second petition on August 29, 2016. The clarity hearing for that petition would have been held on September 15, 2016, but the hearing was canceled after the recall effort was dropped.[1][6]
Supporters of the recall said France, Clarkson, Ebner, and Gordon had been targeted because their terms would not have been up for election until 2018 or 2020. The seats of the other three members of the board—John Sprowl, Jeff Studaker, and Jill Prouse—were on the ballot on November 8, 2016. Sprowl and Studaker did not file to run for re-election, guaranteeing at least two new members joined the board despite the recall being dropped.[2][3]
| ARGUMENTS | |
Recall supporters
The recall effort was started by the group Citizens for Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools. Members of the group said the school board's agenda for the meeting on May 17, 2016, had not been posted until the meeting started. Ed DeView, a member of the recall group, said board members also cut off public comments after half an hour and did not answer questions from their constituents. DeView said the resignations of the three principals "took all of us off guard, really.” He said the principals had been "well-loved in the community.” DeView also said, “If the board was really a board for the kids and the public, they would be looking into what is going on in the district.”[2]
The first petition against the four board members listed the following reasons for recall:
| “ | 1. Failure to be transparent and provide adequate communication with the public constituents. 2. Consistent violations of Open Meetings Act. From January 2015 to May 2016, 12 of 17 Board Meetings entered into closed session with a role call vote or by request of employee. 3. Improper use of closed session to discuss Sale of Property.[7] | ” |
| —First recall petition filed against France, Clarkson, Ebner and Gordon (2016)[3] | ||
After the second point caused the petition to be rejected in a clarity hearing on August 11, 2016, recall supporters changed the language on their second petition to read:
| “ |
|
” |
| —Second recall petition filed against France, Clarkson, Ebner and Gordon (2016)[6] | ||
DeView said that in addition to recalling France, Clarkson, Ebner, and Gordon, Citizens for Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools was interested in replacing the three school board members up for election on November 8, 2016. “We need to get a majority of new people on that board to get new ideas and speak up,” he said.[2]
Recall opponents
Sprowl, who served as president of the board in 2016, said the board members had followed board policy in limiting public comment on the subject of the principals' resignations to 30 minutes. He also said meeting agendas could be found at the superintendent's office prior to school board meetings. “I think everything was handled exactly the way it was supposed to be handled,” he said.[2]
"I understand their frustration and I've been willing to listen," Gordon said after the first recall petition was filed. "I believe we're headed in the right direction."[3]
France said she would be content with the recall results. "It's in God's hands," said France. "I don't have any animosity toward anyone."[3]
Former Superintendent Western explained that the principals had been given a choice at the school board meeting. "The administrators were provided an opportunity for a hearing before the Board of Education, but instead chose to amicably resign from the district," she said.[2]
Michigan State Superintendent Brian Whiston sent a letter of support for Western and the school board. "Having been a local superintendent myself, I know that sometimes the decisions you make are difficult, and at times unpopular, despite being the correct and legal course of action," Whiston said in the letter.[2]
Background
Board accepts resignations of two administrators and approves $700,000 settlement
At a school board meeting on June 27, 2016, the Croswell-Lexington Board of Education announced Superintendent Julie Western and her sister Director of Instruction Ann Wood would be leaving the district. The announcement was met with cheers and a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 100 attendees, according to The Times Herald.[4][8]
The announcement of Western and Wood being let go came after the three principals involved in the fines from lack of proper certification published an open letter explaining what had happened. Though they took responsibility for not being up-to-date on their certifications, they also said they had not been contacted about any issues until March 2016. The district was fined for the principals not having those certifications from October 2015 to March 2016.[4] In a resolution approving the two administrator's severance packages in July 2016, the board said they had asked for Western's voluntary resignation due to the controversy involving the three principals, not from her job performance.[8]
| “ | A small but vocal minority of persons have engaged in a social media campaign critical of Julie Western with respect to the resignations of the above-mentioned administrators, making statements that are in many instances ill informed; Whereas solely because of the controversy described in the preceding paragraphs, and without any relationship to Julie Western's performance of the duties of Superintendent, the Board of Education has requested her voluntary resignation because the Board believes her effectiveness as Superintendent would be adversely impacted.[7] | ” |
| —Croswell-Lexington Board of Education (July 18, 2016)[8] | ||
The board approved severance packages for Western and Wood totaling $700,000 on July 18, 2016. In her settlement agreement, Western was awarded the remaining $308,000 to fulfill her salary through June 30, 2018, when her contract was supposed to end, as well as an additional $107,000. Wood received $135,000 to finish her salary through June 30, 2017, and an additional $150,000. Both administrators agreed not to pursue litigation against the district.[8]
Three principals speak out
The three principals who resigned due to lacking proper certification published an open letter on the Citizens For Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools Facebook page on June 26, 2016. They all took responsibility for not having the proper certification and explained the situation.
| “ | The FIRST time we were asked about it was by Mrs. Western on March 8, 2016 (the superintendent’s office received a letter regarding checking certifications back on October 15) and during this time, we were told we had 5 days to turn it in before we would be terminated and that we had “a snowball’s chance in hell” of making it happen. We were all able to obtain and submit copies of our certifications to the superintendent within 72 hours.[7] | ” |
| —Ryan Cayce, Mark Benson, and Colette Moody (June 26, 2016)[4] | ||
The three principals also explained that they had not taken the opportunity for a hearing before the school board because they were told by legal counsel they would have a better chance of getting new jobs if they resigned. Former superintendent Western had recommended them for termination, but because they resigned, they were able to gain more favorable evaluations. They were also able to finish out the school year.[4]
The Citizens For Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools later took the letter off their Facebook page by request of the three principals.[9]
On July 18, 2016, the board approved the severance packages for Superintendent Julie Western and Director of Instruction Ann Wood, and community members asked the board to reinstate the three principals. One community member said that at least two of them had expressed interest in returning. "As the board, you need to have the best leadership in place. (The principals) know the teachers, they know the place. Starting our school year with a new superintendent, and three new principals is probably not in the best interest of Croswell-Lexington," said Amie Stillson, a parent of students in the district.[8]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
Members of the Citizens for Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools collected recall paperwork from the Sanilac County Clerk in May 2016. The first step in the recall process was to submit petition wording to the Sanilac County Election Commission. The clarity hearing for the petition was scheduled for August 11, 2016.[2][3] The election commission rejected the recall petitions due to unclear wording for one of the three allegations listed.[5]
Supporters of the recall effort submitted a second recall petition on August 29, 2016. The second effort was later dropped in September 2016 due to two targeted members resigning. The clarity hearing for that petition would have been held on September 15, 2016.[1][6] To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters would have had to collect signatures from 25 percent of school district residents who voted in the 2014 gubernatorial election.[2][3]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Croswell-Lexington Community Schools' recall. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Croswell-Lexington Community Schools, Michigan
- Recall campaigns in Michigan
- Political recall efforts, 2016
- School board recalls
External links
- Croswell-Lexington Community Schools
- Sanilac County Clerk
- Citizens for Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Times Herald, "Cros-Lex recalls dropped," September 12, 2016
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 The Times Herald, "Cros-Lex parents consider school board recall," May 26, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The Times Herald, "Cros-Lex board to face big changes," July 27, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Times Herald, "Cros-Lex school board moves to oust Western," June 29, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Times Herald, "Clarity hearing rejects Cros-Lex school board recalls," August 11, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Times Herald, "New Cros-Lex recall petitions filed," August 29, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The Times Herald, "Cros-Lex schools giving admins $700,000," July 19, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Citizens For Change at Croswell-Lexington Schools," June 26, 2016
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