Hancock resigns from USD 378 board as divisions deepen on direction of school district

Members of the public voiced concerns Monday regarding the Riley County USD 378 school board’s handling of Superintendent Cliff Williams’ contract. Williams has been on administrative leave since Jan. 8.

A pair of former school board members spoke, including Chris White, who was on the board in December when Williams’ contract was extended. Her term expired at the end of the year and the new board soon reversed that decision on a 4-3 vote. White says she’s extremely disturbed by what she calls “an apparent calculated decision.”

White says there were zero issues of any wrongdoing or potential legal issues regarding Mr. Williams, a fact confirmed by Board President Samantha Brown last month with News Radio KMAN. Brown noted the issue is a black eye for the district.

Prior to the decision, Brown moved to appoint a law firm to handle all legal matters, which was also approved 4-3. That firm is now tasked with carrying out negotiations with Mr. Williams. Former board member Randy O’Boyle stated Monday he helped negotiate Mr. Williams’ benefits package upon his hire in 2016, which prompted a question from the board president.

He urged the board to carefully weigh their decisions and ensure they have all their information correct, and called Williams a benefit to the USD 378 community.

Board member Nathan Mead also announced Monday that fellow board member Jeff Hancock resigned from the board, effective immediately, citing concerns with the majority’s recent actions and being “out of focus with responsibility.” He read Hancock’s resignation letter out loud to the board and the public.

Hancock’s letter addressed concerns with an initial lack of communication from certain board members with others, which he says could have led to a different outcome and an equivalent outcome with less cost. The letter went on to state that “very accusatory words were used without due diligence, based on selective and inconclusive evidence to support either.”

Mead and fellow board member Justin Ricketts later moved to reinstate Superintendent Williams, but that was voted down 4-2.

Also brought to light Monday was the board president’s recent decision to hire an outside investigator for a potential Kansas Open Meetings Act violation.

Brown moved to approve a payment totaling just over $1,800 to Ness County Sheriff Brandon Mitchell. The motion ultimately failed failed on a 4-2 vote after board members took issue with the decision, without prior board approval. Mead did not support authorizing such a payment.

Brown argued she believed she was within her authority based on board policy.

Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, who attended Monday’s meeting, confirmed that only he or the attorney general have the legal authority to investigate potential KOMA violations. It’s unclear if Mitchell performed the investigation in his capacity of sheriff or as a private contractor.