Controversy erupts after board votes out principal

 RED OAK — An administrative law judge will be deciding whether or not the Red Oak School board can terminate high school principal Jedd Sherman’s contract. 

The board voted 5-0 May 5 to begin the termination process, which gave Sherman five days to request a hearing before a judge who will decide whether the board has justification to terminate the contract. 

Sherman submitted the needed paperwork Friday.

“This law, unlike the law that regulates the termination of a teacher’s contract, does not empower the board to make a decision in regards to the merits of that question (if termination is justified),” Board Attorney Jim Hanks said. “Someone other than the board will weigh in on the subject and say to all of you and the board, yes or no there is just cause to terminate Mr. Sherman’s contract.”

Students spoke against the decision at the May 5 meeting and followed up with a sit-in protest Wednesday looking for information as to why Sherman was being terminated. 

“I support Mr. Sherman, but it’s not about that,” Emily Rose, one of the student organizers said at the sit-in protest, which lasted a couple hours. “This is because we haven’t been told why this is happening. The board went about it in the wrong way ... we are just here to show we are not OK with what’s happening.”

At the special meeting, the board met in closed session for about 90 minutes, without Sherman who had requested to address the board in a public setting. He stressed he wanted the opportunity to present his input to the board regarding recent evaluations from superintendent Terry Schmidt. 

“I have not had one meeting this year with the board; I have not shared any of my thoughts with the board on my evaluation whatsoever,” Sherman said. “For two years, I’ve held back sharing my side… to keep everything copasetic with the board and not put (the board) in that awkward position. I’m asking for the opportunity for (Schmidt) to talk to me in front of everyone so we could dialogue about what his evidence was. Last year, I got four evaluations (from Schmidt) that made no sense whatsoever.”

Following the closed session, the board agreed to listen to public comments, many of which came from students and parents, but declined to respond to any of them. 

Parents and students alike had another opportunity to question the board at a meeting Monday night in the high school auditorium. Comments from that meeting will be published this week online at redoakexpress.com. 

Sherman meanwhile is hoping to be able to talk with the board and simply review what he believes is unfair and inaccurate evaluations upon which the board is acting. 

“I just want to go through this ugly evaluation so people can hear from both sides,” he said. “When push comes to shove and you see that evaluation, you will see me doing what is best in the interest of the students.”

The hearing before the administrative law judge, which will take place in the next 30 days, will be open to the public. 

“We are just spending money now,” Sherman said. “Money for the judge, money for the school’s lawyers, money for my lawyer. It’s a shame this couldn’t have just been handled with a little more transparency from the beginning.”

Sherman added he truly appreciates the support shown from the students and the community. 

“It makes me feel less alone,” Sherman. “It’s been very encouraging.”