RETALIATION BY SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR ANDERSON and VICE-CHAIR MELNYK:

I was unable to attend the last school board meeting because I was out of town on a mission trip.

While I was gone, the School Board voted 8-2 to remove me from all major committees. I previously served on the Audit Committee and the Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

Each July, committees may be reassigned by the Chair and Vice Chair. Based on School Board by-laws, committees should be equitably distributed and be based on interest, experience and skills. Chair Anderson and Vice Chair Melnyk make the assignments and then the full Board votes on whether or not to approve.

Here is a list of how many major committee assignments for Board members (committees that meet monthly-- with the exception of student discipline committees):

Edwards: 3
Melnyk: 4
Rye: 3
Riggs: 3
Felton: 3
Owens (new member): 2
Holtz: 3
Weems: 1
Hughes: 0
Manning: 0

I had requested to be placed/kept on the Audit Committee and Mayor's Committee for Person's with Disabilities. One of my colleagues on the audit committee had even stated to me that she would be willing to step down from the audit comm if someone else wanted to serve. Instead, I was removed from the audit committee.

This retaliation is a clear violation of school board by-laws and in my opinion a retaliation for my transparency to the public on issues of concern.

I will not stop providing transparency to the public regarding issues in our schools, whether positive or negative. I know many of my colleagues take issue with me communicating with the public about anything that is negative, but I didn't run for office to be a cheerleader for the Superintendent. I ran for office to make sure our students get the best education possible and that parent voices are heard.

It is my understanding that at the public meeting prior to the vote, Ms. Melnyk said that the reason for our committee removal is because some of us have "nefarious intentions".
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Over the coming weeks, I will be communicating even more information with the public that I believe you have the right to know.