Mankato Free Press article provides details
In an article in today’s ( Tuesday, December 27 ) Mankato Free Press, reporter Kristine Goodrich details the continuing face-off between the Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board and Lisa Shellum, the school district’s former half-time superintendent and half-time principal.
Last Monday, December 19, the board released the findings from a pair of investigations completed on Shellum, alleging she committed misconduct. See information on those investigations included in a previous post on the December 19 school board meeting: http://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2016/12/b-ops-school-board-sets-3-levy-increase/
Meanwhile, Shellum filed a civil lawsuit against the school district in federal court earlier this month alleging whistle-blower retaliation. In the lawsuit, Shellum alleges the school board majority four members discriminated against her by ordering a principal performance review that was different than the one conducted on the district’s other principal. The suit also alleges that the review results were illegally shared with the public. The third portion of her suit alleges that a quorum of board members met illegally. The suit claims her termination was in retaliation of her questioning of alleged illegal board activity and seeks financial damages of $75,000 or more.
The investigation reports were presented days after the lawsuit was served. These reports have been forwarded to Watonwan County Attorney Stephen Lindee.
Goodrich reports that today, “Shellum’s attorney filed an amended lawsuit complaint claiming the investigation reports were retaliatory and contained false information.
The amended suit counterclaims that Shellum’s contract allowed her to submit mileage reimbursement claims and notes that the claims were approved by the district’s business office. It also notes that investigator Ferguson wrote the district’s rebuttal to Shellum’s complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (which is required before a lawsuit can proceed).
The claim in the Martin report that Shellum informed a newspaper reporter of the dismissed allegation against Reker is false, according to the lawsuit.
Regarding the day care, the amended suit noted that Shellum was not required to be the license holder and it posed a potential legal liability for her.
The revised suit also alleges that the investigations were completed in November but were only provided at that time to the majority of board members who had voted to conduct the investigation. The investigation reports were disclosed to the other board members and the public just days after the district was served notification of the lawsuit.”
For the complete article by Goodrich, go to: http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/former-butterfield-odin-administrator-is-suing-district-district-investigations-allege/article_a04e4e36-cc8c-11e6-8993-97a85437ba6a.html.
