On November 13, 2008 school board member MICHELLE WAHL, seconded by ROCKY STUCKEY, made a motion to open up the superintendent’s position for applicants. This very motion was the start of a community-wide upset to say the least. At that time all we knew as a community was that our schools were thriving as never before. The TEACHERS were HAPPY, not FEARFUL as they are today, and the morale at the schools showed it with SAT scores HIGHER than they are today.
On January 22 and 29, 2009 and February 4, 2009, the Dodge County board members met in executive session and decided on the appointment of Dr. May as superintendent. It was during these meetings that selection of the superintendent took place behind CLOSED DOORS. According to the Open Meeting Laws, the votes for a superintendent must be OPEN to the public. On April 21, 2009 the lawsuit was filed.
On March 9, 2009, vice-chairman SHIRLEY IKEDIONWU, at the request of chairman DOUGIE MARTIN, altered the official board of education minutes of January 13, 15 and 22, 2009, respectively by affixing her signature as vice-chairman as if she signed them at the next regular board of education meeting in February. Also, present was WENDY WAHL DENNIS, who witnessed SHIRLEY IKEDIONWU initial and date the board minutes she had signed earlier. Mrs. Dennis is the business manager for the Dodge County Board of Education. Mrs. Dennis did use said documents knowing them to contain a FALSE entry by passing them off as the official board of education minutes pursuant to an Open Records Act request.
On May 5th, 2009 the school board met at a special called meeting. During this meeting superintendent May presented evidence about a staff member to the board. Again, it is AGAINST THE LAW to present and receive evidence behind CLOSED DOORS. On May 5th, 2009, chairman DOUGIE MARTIN made a SWORN affidavit that “NO” testimony or evidence was introduced or discussed. On May 13th, 2009, we filed an Amended Complaint with these acts violating the Open Meeting Laws.
On September 11, 2009, superintendent May and business manager Wendy Dennis were dismissed from the case because you cannot try CRIMINAL charges in a civil court.
After a long year of hearings on this case, on April 27, 2010, we met in the Dodge County Courthouse for the final hearing. WITHOUT A LAWYER this entire case, we have been what you call Pro Se litigants. We made our share of mistakes and because of those mistakes our case was dismissed. The case never went to trial and the Dodge County board members were certainly NOT DECLARED INNOCENT as THEY would have YOU to BELIEVE. As I have said, we made mistakes and we feel the courts did too, and that is why we have appealed this case. As of today, September 26, 2010, I have not heard from the Court of Appeals.
I wish I had known it would have taken this long for the court process. All we wanted was for the ACTIONS of the board members to be NULL and VOID for the selection of our school superintendent. Instead the citizens of Dodge County have had to LIVE with having the “FIRST OUT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT’ in its HISTORY. Selections of that magnitude that affect our schools should be OPEN to the public as the LAW quotes. If the board members tried to CONCEAL this, what else have they CONCEALED?
When you decide on a candidate for school board, remember, even if they are your FAMILY MEMBERS, do you want these SAME board members to TAKE CARE OF your children and grandchildren’s future?
Diana Glass
