Public calls for resignation of Douglas County School Board, teachers threaten to leave due to board politics
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 10/06/2023 - 4:49pm
Dozens of public commenters during Friday's special board meeting of the Douglas County School Board called for the resignation of four members following the release of information that Superintendent Keith Lewis would be terminated.
While several board members called Lewis's departure a "resignation," Lewis's attorney, who attended as Lewis's representative, said that Lewis had never resigned; rather, he agreed not to oppose the board's choice to exercise their right to terminate him.
"He did not voluntarily terminate his contract on his own," the attorney said.
Dozens of community members flooded the meeting, leading to multiple overflow areas needing to be set up. Attendees were overwhelmingly in support of Lewis, accusing the board of not representing the community they were elected to serve since the majority of the community “loves and supports” Lewis, according to commenters.
Trustee Linda Gilkerson said she had specifically asked for a new meeting location to be held since it was anticipated to draw crowds, but the board either would not or could not change the location.
Gilkerson also spoke at length about how devastated she was to be losing a "great leader who is honest, smart, and caring" because of the board majority.
She also said that she had personally received over 100 emails in favor of Lewis, and only one against.
"I don't know where the people are that are against him, other than up here on the board," Gilkerson said.
Gilkerson said she wondered if the real reason the board was against Lewis is because he "refused to follow their agenda and break the law."
"He has faced constant harassment and bullying (by the board majority) who have worked to take away his ability to do his job," Gilkerson went on. "They're handcuffing him and trying to take his voice away. One can only take so much mistreatment day in and day out."
Trustee Katherine Dickerson responded to Gilkerson, saying "I will never ever apologize to keep kids from things that are damaging and inappropriate to their age group," but did not elaborate on what it had to do with the superintendent, and what "things" she found damaging and inappropriate.
Trustee Doug Englekirk said, "I have enjoyed working with Mr. Lewis, and I'm sorry it's come to this. I wish there was someway we could work this out."
Public comment was vastly in favor of Lewis, and against the board, with dozens asking President Susan Jansen and Trustees Dickerson, Englekirk and David Burns, to resign. Those who were in favor of Lewis came dressed in red as a show of unity.
A number of district teachers joined public commenters, all of whom were in favor of Lewis and against his termination. Several teachers even said that with the loss of Lewis, and the ongoing choices of board members that they said were political in nature and not in favor of children and families, teachers would leave "in droves" in response.
Multiple times throughout the meeting, Jansen attempted to silence public commenters if they attempted to talk about Joey Gilbert or other actions the board has taken, but commenters pointed out that they did not try to silence commenters who had spoken in favor of the board members, even though they also spoke on topics other than Lewis’s termination.
The meeting is currently on going and we will update with information as it continues.
