Termination process underway for ROHS principal

RED OAK — The Red Oak school board voted unanimously to consider the termination of high school principal Jedd Sherman after meeting in closed session Monday night for more than an hour.

The special meeting, which lasted until after 10:30 p.m., was held in the high school auditorium due to the more than 50 people present to speak on Sherman’s behalf.

Despite Sherman’s objection of the closed session meeting, the board’s legal representative, Jim Hanks, said under Iowa code, a closed session is permissible because litigation is imminent.

Following the closed session, the board unanimously voted in favor of considering the termination of Sherman’s contract, effective June 30.

“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),” 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.”

Sherman now has the option to request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge who will decide whether the board has justification to terminate his contract, according to Hanks.

The hearing, which would be open to the public, will be held within 30 days of a request, and the judge then has 10 days to make a proposal to be considered by both parties.

While the board members declined any further comment into the reasons behind the termination consideration, Sherman said he would like an opportunity to share his evaluations with the public along with comments 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.”

Hanks said Sherman was allowed to share his evaluations with the public but the board and superintendent would not participate.

School board president Lee Fellers then allowed time for public comments, even though Hanks said the board was not obligated to do so.

More than a dozen different parents, faculty members and students spoke on Sherman’s behalf.

More information will be released as it becomes available.