Special Board Meeting/Board Hearing 10/7/2025

001[Music] Yes. >> I got stuck about three hours. We just got out. spring. >> Okay, my clock just ticked over to six o'clock. So, I will convene this special session of the school board. Um, read my uh got a scripture to help me get through all this. So, here we go. Um, this is just the opening statement to get us going. Um we're here tonight to address two sets of complaints uh filed um with the former school board. The initial set of complaints were filed specifically against board chair Aaron Gudge related to Chair Gudge's social media post um regarding Charlie Kirk's death. The second set of complaints is addressed to the full board and challenges the process by which the board is handling the complaints against Cher Gudge. Um thus this evening we will have

002be having two separate hearings to address these two related but separate issues because the latter set of complaints uh goes to the entire complaint process. Uh our first hearing will be on that matter immediately will be on that matter immediately following by the complaints against director GCH. Uh moreover as one of the sets of complaints is directed at board chair Gudge and the other is related to the process of addressing complaints against her. Uh I as the school board vice chair will be acting as uh the chair of tonight's hearings on these matters. Okay. The hearing rule and these will apply both to both our our hearing. Uh the following rules and guidance will apply to both the first and second hearings. Uh parties are uh asked to remain professional and refrain from personal attacks.

003Members of the audience are to remain quiet. Any audience member yelling, shouting, or being disruptive will be asked to stop and may include further sanctions up to and including a request for the person to leave the meeting. Such warnings will not count against the presenter's time if they're on clock. Additionally, as board vice chair, I have the authority to establish order in the meeting and uh do so by reserving the right to impose any sanction deemed necessary for violating the ground rule set for this hearing up to including a request for any participant or audience member to leave. I certainly don't expect nor hope that I have to do anything like that. The following ground rules will be applied during the hearing. One, participants must address their presentations to the board. It's not to the

004to the public uh and remain on the topic of the complaints. New complaints regarding events that occurred outside of the scope of the formal complaints are outside the scope of this hearing. Number two, participants will address the board as a whole. They may not direct questions to individual board members or other parties. Three, participants will observe uh the time limits and respect the timekeepers notice that time has concluded. I as the board vice chair will serve as timekeeper. Actually, the board attorney here is going to join me and talk with that. All participants will speak in a respectful tone and volume. No personal attacks will be allowed. Parties who engage in personal attacks will be asked to stop. Uh such warning will not count against uh a percentage time. Board members will reserve questions for

005the question and answer period after each um presenter. Um okay, moving on. We're going to start with hearing what I'm calling hearing number hearing number one. This is um the complaint a hearing or excuse me a complaint basically regarding the complaint process and first amendment considerations. Um with that I am now opening our first hearing um on complaints um filed by two individuals that the Paloma School Board does not have the authority to hear complaints against board members who post comments on their personal social media uh sites on first amendment ground. Uh the board will be hearing from the two complaintants this evening. Each complaintant will have 10 minutes to present before the board. After each party's time has expired, they will be asked to end their presentation. parties will need not use their full

006allotted time but such time will be forfeited and may not be used by another party. Uh the board will have an opportunity to ask questions of the parties um before we the board deliberate. After we hear hear presentation, the board will discuss and vote on how to respond to these complaints. Um do the parties involved have any questions? Yes. No. Okay. You're just you're just letting us know you're here. Great. Uh and as I mentioned, our um the board's attorney here uh will be assisting me with timekeeping. Um each of the complaintants will have uh 10 minutes um for their piece. Um and u Elizabeth here will give a five-minute warning and a one minute warning. Um so with that, I'll call for their first. You've chosen who's going to go first. >> Okay. And

007they provide a copy of what they're going to read. So I'll pass those. These are these are not incremental. These are just copies of what they're they're reading. >> Yep. >> Yes, please. And if you would state your full name and then begin. And when you begin, we'll start our >> uh my name is Tony Hyman. I'm a formouth school district resident. Um and I am um a little nervous. >> It's all right. If >> you don't think we are, you'd be wrong. I can appreciate your position right now. Um, so I suggest that no action is the appropriate decision for a complaint about a board member's personal speech. Free speech is a fundamental right. As long as the speech breaks no law, is not threatening, is on personal social media, it is not school

008business. These complaints about board member grudge are harassment targeting free speech. Harassment of this type should not be allowed to waste the board's time and resources. There is a recall election process to remove a board member for misconduct. Community members are free to use this process if they feel so agrieved. And that is basically what I think you should do. >> Okay. If you want, while you're sitting there, we'll ask, does the board have any questions for Miss Okay, thank you very much, Mr. Saxon. And same thing, he provided a copy what he got to read. I will pass that down. Sexton, the school board's resident. I have read the phoma school board complaint policy posted on the website and I understand that the complaint process is fully described and that the school board is

009following the proper procedure. I also understand that the school board members are elected and cannot be forced from their seats by either action of the school board or by the school superintendent. The only action that can remove an elected school board member is a recall election. I urge the board to support the rights of the individuals on the board to have free speech, differing opinions, and individual public lives. Stepping forward to offer public service in an elected position should not require a person to hide their life. I believe the school board has the opportunity to demonstrate to the community and the students of our schools that people can tolerate differing opinions and work together for our common good. If community members are willing, a recall election is the only action able to remove a sitting

010school board member. There are over 9,000 registered voters within the phoma school district. I feel that school board should not waste time considering complaints regarding personal speech or any other action outside the business of the school board. I urge the FA school board to return no action on the complaints regarding board member judge's personal statements. I further urged the school board to consider limiting complaints to the board to those explicit explicitly pertaining to the function of the school board. This would require updating the flow of school board complaint processes or policies and processes to avoid wasting the time of the board on issues outside the scope of the school board's mission. Thank you for your service on the phone with the school board. Thank you. Are you there? Questions, Mr. Son? Okay. Thank you. Okay.

011And so hearing no further questions. Um the hearing part is now concluded and board will begin its deliberations. Um so board members share perspective on these two complaints. Yeah. >> Like like they stated there is am I addressing the board? Am I addressing people? >> I dressing the board. Yeah. Okay. You're discussing among us. >> The the fact is that the school board does not have the authority or the ability to do anything. It is an election recall process. So, we don't have the ability to do anything. So, I guess not I don't know there's a lot of discussion because it's a public election process, right? >> Yeah. I Oh, sorry. Sorry. Go ahead. argue about. Um, thank you both for bringing home a point that I really appreciate you um, you being here tonight.

012I I have also struggled with this um because I to Ryan's point, I don't feel as though there is any recourse for this group of people. Um, we don't really have a way to really do anything. Um so it does feel as though this is a bit of um chasing our tail and spending a lot of time and a lot of resources uh doing things that we could be putting towards I think real actionable items that would be beneficial to all the students that are in the sector. That's the same. >> Um so you know upon getting um uh guidance from council the uh um of course there is the fundamental first amendment right. Um but the first amendment protects you from going to jail um for what you say. Um it doesn't uh protect

013you from any and all other consequences. Um I mean the what I liken is, you know, if you work for a big corporation, stand on a street corner and scream out how terrible that corporation is um or post things on social media about that corporation that isn't very favorable, they can take action. that's not particularly uh you know that they can't have you arrested but they can uh you know um you can have uh you know consequences at your place of work. um in terms of an elected school board member or any elected official for that matter. Um while again they are afforded their first amendment rights um there are also other considerations um and uh you know I I point out um our oath of office that we all uh take um and I

014will I'm just it's one sentence long so I'm just going to read it. I the member of the board do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Oregon and the laws thereof and the policies of the Paloma School District. Um during my term, I will faithfully and impartially discharge the responsibility off the school board member to the best of my ability. Uh so we do have policies uh about how to conduct ourselves when speaking um in public specifically social media in public in general but definitely addressing social media. So even though there is a constitutional protection um for uh free speech um it doesn't uh it's not completely unlimited uh that speech is not completely unlimited when you hold a position of an elected

015position of authority especially when you take an um so as much as I would like to say this is simply a matter of free speech issue and um we would you know basically say there's nothing to consider here. Um I don't think the uh I don't think the law or our own oath um really gives us that option. I do think that the complaint process um uh that or the complaints that have been filed are uh legitimate complaints. Board will determine if they're uh warranted, meaning I mean if they're substantiated. Um but um yeah, unfortunately I I uh again it would be very easy if this was just a freedom of speech issue, but it's not. So um any other deliberations? So that at this point I would entertain a motion to either say oh

016um with legal council president are we going to later on discuss option I guess that be later on we're discussing because right now we're just going through whether >> whether this proc whether we really should even be hearing what >> yeah right yeah like said we have a whole separate hearing on the complaints against >> if I may I do think it's very important for the public to have an opportunity to raise complaint links to the board if they have genuine concerns. >> Okay. So then I would entertain a motion to e to either substantiate or not substantiate the these two complaints about the board's ability to even hear complaints of this nature. >> And when you say in this nature, you mean within the bounds of the board's service or within this particular first

017amendment question? Uh so we're addressing the complaint. Basically, these two um are alleging that uh you know there we shouldn't even be hearing these complaints um because um of chair judges full protection of free speech. And what I think the legal precedent is is that's not accurate that you you you know you do hold yourself to a different standard than just freedom of speech when you swear as a school both of them. Can I clarify something? >> No, I'm sorry. Sorry. >> I I agree with what you said. Yes. >> So, >> are you looking for >> I am. And it's that it's that simple. The motion would be either substantiate or not substantiate their complaint. So, basically, do we, you know, accept the complaints or do we not? So I move that we need

018to accept their complaints because >> well accept the complaints would mean that uh they have and we really there's no process by which we can >> oh sorry yeah >> yeah yeah okay yeah we and I use a bad word we already accepted the complaints that's why we're having this right we've already took that action last week or yeah last week I guess so this is do we basically uh acknowledge the arguments that uh that u you know this is a freedom of speech issue and that the board then can take no sanctions or you know really shouldn't even be considering any complaints because we can't add any. And so again, it's it's pretty straightforward. Do we substantiate or not substantiate complaints? These two complaints about this first amendment question. >> Well, I appreciate what

019the people had to say and how they've said it. Um I would need to make a motion that we do not substantiate these Okay. So, >> and I would like to do something a little vile and substantiate the claims that they made, but also request that we still hear. >> I know that's weird. That is how >> but we have this motion. Do I have a second on this motion? I'll second. >> Okay. So, let's take action on that and if that fails, you can we uh All right. Any discussion on All right. >> I have lots of things that I want to say, but >> this is really incredibly freaky. I feel like there are I I've council provided us with a very succinct um synopsis of first amendment and I did a real

020deep dive into things that schoolhouse rock I don't know any about like million years ago and I still feel as though uh I'm running myself around and around trying to figure out what the right answer is here. Um, I feel I feel uncomfortable not substantiating the complaints that two residents are bringing on something that feel very very like solid and core to my to my beliefs. Um, but I I value what you're saying. >> Well, I'm just >> and the ease of moving forward with that. >> Yeah. So that the the legal opinion we were provided I think painted a very clear picture that the complaints we received against chair judge are legitimate for per our policy and per you know first amendment law for us to consider. I think that the other thing that's

021to light and one of the things that the complaintant brought up is the part of the where where the board will subsequently be expected to to hear complaints on free speech and this kind of I mean within the bounds of what is being what are parameters. I feel like this is a very exhilar >> and I feel like we're talking about just this case. I think if there's something in the future, we'd have to revisit that. >> Well, and my answer to that would be the only legitimate complaints against uh that that you know um that we would consider in a in this kind of context uh would be if they violated board policy. So if if someone said, "I plan on voting for this candidate or I plan on going to that rally and

022someone was offended by that." Well, too bad. That that is completely and totally freedom speech. But we do have a policy. Um we've all sworn to uphold that policy and um uh you know how we post things specifically on social media. That's where they're in our policy. So, this is one I think that, you know, the board um frankly doesn't have much of a choice but to address. There are other ones that could be that there are other ones that could be filed and we could just easily reject those out of hand. We wouldn't have to hold a hearing if we literally said, "Well, I don't like it. This person publicly said they're going to vote for this candidate or we would I would say that would be thank you for your complaint or is

023rejecting it." We move on. >> Can I expand a little bit on what I said too? I feel like um in order to do the next hearing and hear the following or those complaints that that is why I recommended the motion is so that we can go on with the process. >> Yeah. >> That that's my view and all here so that we can Yes. So that we can >> Yeah. I would argue yes because that is the not the argument I'm making because that is the appropriate thing to do. both the legal correct the legal arguments and our own our own oath of office our own policy >> basically points us that direction >> right in this way >> now you know I know that the two complaints in this you know did point

024out that the board can take no uh you know action of removing um we'll talk about this in the next hearing but we our own policy doesn't even give us the option I mean we certainly do not have uh any uh mechanism to remove any of us from the the for um that's very very clear and very disheartening to see the number of emails and messages we got that said you know the ones I found most entertaining was superintendent you need to remove Aaron Judge from the school board that is not how this works right so >> the complaints are certainly right on that fact um and then in terms of uh the option of you know um replacing director judge as chair we don't even have a policy that permits that um our policy

025demands no mention about um you know basically um removing a officer chair or vice chair um and no way to even call a special election. The only time our policy calls for election uh is when we just all got reelected when there's, you know, a regular election. No, I'm sorry. It's once a year. In July, the end of the term um we would re we would revote for officers. Um and it our board policy frankly is pretty weak because it doesn't even say if the if the uh chair resigned or leave the district or you know um those types of things. Yeah. Uh there's no yeah exactly there's there's no mechanism to say well okay then how do we pick the next be a huge flaw because that has to have happened in the past

026but our board policy doesn't address that. So you know back to these two complaints yes they are right there is no mechanism for us to specifically remove you know chair judge from the chair or from the school board. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second to um to not substantiate these complaints. Basically saying that um we disagree that the um uh that the process is invalid and that uh we um uh you know basically shouldn't be hearing these complaints from that we'll hear the other thing at all. Any other discussion on that? Okay. All right. So, we have that motion basically to basically uh deny the complaint or not substantiate the these two complaints. Um, with that, I will take a call for vote. All those in favor to not substantiate these two

027claims. Okay, that's unanimous. Good discussion. Always nice when it's unanimous. Okay, thank you for your concern and for your respect to this process. And with that, I will close um that part of the hearing. And we will now move um to our next one. Okay. So, opening our second hearing on complaints filed against board chair Aaron Judge related to chair judge's social media posting regarding Charlie Kirst. Uh the board will be hearing from seven complaintants and chair judge this evening. Uh there was an eighth complaintant uh who would uh who could not attend tonight. Um but she submitted written testimony last Friday which the board members have received. Each complaintant will have 10 minutes to present before the board. Um given there are eight formal complaints um jer judge will have 20 minutes to present

028her response which she will do at the end. After each party's time has expired, they will be asked to end their presentation. Parties need not use their allotted time. Um but such time will be forfeited and may not be used by another party. Uh we will start with complaintants and then sher judge will present. Uh the board will have an opportunity to ask questions of the parties um for deliberation. And just so we don't have to call people field back up like I did with the previous one, you can ask questions at the end of their presentation. It's not part of the 10 minutes. Um and then when everyone's done, if we want to ask additional questions, we can do that um >> without calling without calling individuals out. >> Uh well, you're going to

029be asking a question of an individual. So you would be Yeah. >> Um okay. The board will have the opportunity to ask questions as you said. After that, the board will discuss and vote on how to respond to these complaints. Um, complaintants shall present their case first as mentioned. Um, I've just done a random selection, determine the order. The complaintants will present as follows. Um, as I read your name, if you could just get a hand to make sure you're here. Shelley Neman is number one. Christy Vaughn, thank you very much. Number two, Ron O. Okay, we don't have Ron. Okay, Sher Kramer. Nice. Great. Thank you, David. Uh, sorry, Davin Silverman. No, not here. Okay, they should be marking it up. Uh, Michelle Reed. Great. And Amanda Lyn. Amanda. I don't see Amanda. >>

030Julie, but yeah, I assume she Yeah. >> All right. I'm just confirming. I don't have Ron a Davin Silverman or Amanda Lindsay. Okay. And that's their complaints are still filed. We have the original complaint. So the fact they're not here to testify that's probably them an opportunity to make another another case. But other than that, um their complaints are still part of this process and we'll be okay with that. Um at this point uh no uh oh yeah so take a seat but I do a couple more things. Sorry at this point I will remind everyone that the uh in li of verbal testimony complaint Jesse Browns the minute of written statement that you all received on Friday. So that's part of your and I think you all saw the email from me this morning

031all of our complaints and legal guidance and all that is in one directory. So should have at your fingertips tonight. Um uh okay any questions of the parties I'll ask that again even though I asked earlier okay great so calling for Michelle Neman again please state your full name and begin and we'll start >> my full name is Michelle Neman or Neman um thank you for your service I wanted to say that first and foremost and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you this evening I'd like to start if it's okay by reading my formal complaint followed by some additional remarks. My formal complaint dated September 11th reads, "Dear Fom school board members, I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding a recent social media post made by

032the current school board chair. The message which indirectly condoned homicide and intolerance is not only alarming but fundamentally incompatible with the values we expect from someone entrusted with representing our school district. Just last month, our school district partnered with local emergency services for a collaborative active shooter safety training exercise. This is series. As a community member and a former Paloma school board chair, I find it unacceptable that an individual in such a prominent leadership role would share such hateful redood. Posts such as this send a dangerous message to our students, families, and educators. One that undermines the principles of respect, empathy, and unity. Our school district has strived so hard to instill and overcome these values over the years. I urge the school board to take appropriate measures to address this matter. I trust that

033you will act in the best interest of our students and community uphold the standards we expect our elected officials. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Shelley Neman. I would also like to add tonight that I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that prior to September 10th, I did not even know who Charlie Kirk was. But you know who did? My children, both of whom attended the phomen school district all throughout their schooling. and one that just graduated and shared the stage with some of you just a few short months ago. So many members of the younger generation were shook for their failure by this outrageous act of violence that took place on school grounds. This included one of my son's childhood friends who is also a recent Colon High School graduate and whose siblings are in this

034district today. He was actually present when the shooting occurred. These young members of our community were extremely troubled and deeply grieving for the loss of an innocent life taken in such a violent way. for the chair of their hometown school board to publicly post such a cruel statement only hours after the event that so boldly read and I quote some men improve this world only by leaving it end quote and in the context of a school shooting nonetheless no matter who the victim is this is reckless divisive and indicative of bias and an extreme lack of professionalism. The public post has raised deep concern and led many of us in the community to question the chair's ability to lead impartially, enforce policy fairly, and uphold the trust placed in her as an elected official. I

035would argue that while freedom of speech protects personal expression, public comments from someone in authority carry weight and consequences. To clarify, I call them public because they were shared directly with hundreds of people in this community. Friends to include myself, parents, staff members, and possibly even some students. To me, that is not considered private in any way. The post mocked a tragedy and implied that violence is acceptable. Just as Chair Gudge may feel the right to share her opinion so publicly, community members have the right to question her ability to remain unbiased and objective when writing and enforcing school's policy, especially if the circumstances don't align with her personal views at the very least and rightfully so. It has undermined the trust that many of us have in her >> in her ability to lead

036them. How can chair judge govern our district and students when she can't professionally govern herself? I would like to close with my belief that responding to hate with more hate only deepens division and erodess erodess the possibility of meaningful dialogue. Professionalism and objectivity, especially in emotionally charged situations such as this, are powerful tools that we can all use for some clarity and peaceful resolution. Thank you for your time. Wait a second. >> Pause isn't appropriate in here. Sorry. uh questions before I I have a question and it's going to be the same question I have I think for everybody and I I've asked this question board in your original thing you read you asked approp the school board to take appropriate measures and I've been struggling trying to figure out what the appropriate measure is

037because I I asked every time we've had one of our meetings I keep asking and as far as I understand and I read the schoolboard policies as well I don't know that there's any action we can take. So, I'm probably going to ask every person. They're all going to say I don't know. I know what measures people want to have happen, but as vice chair pointed out, we don't have the ability or authority as far as I've understood and read. So, um I'm stuck with in this discussion. What are we I know we were expecting something of this and I can't figure out what we're supposed to do. So I I've asked questions. I just I I feel at a loss as a only thing I understand we can do is after the person has

038been elected for six months. It was a recall process and we're not six months. So I'm I I just feel at a loss. I know people expect something out of this. I don't know what that is. >> Yes. I I understand and I understand your hands are tied. I think at the very least I would respectfully ask that each of you ask um Chair Edge to step down as chair. I think that would be appropriate and I think it would be an appropriate response from you. I think it would be an appropriate response from Sher Dutch. Um I have a question. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your statement. Um I'm going to ask these questions probably of everyone as well. And you alluded to it. You said that it was a public

039post and then you went on to say that it wasn't necessarily a public post, but that the way that it was presented um to the people that were in Arab's friend list made it public. So I'm curious where you saw the post. >> I don't believe I said that it wasn't public. I think all along I said that it was public. I think to hundreds of people in this community is public. >> Okay. So where did you see it? I am her friend. That's why I said including friends myself. I am her friend on faith. >> So to clarify that's that's what I'm correct to clarify. >> I did not share it. I kept it to myself as the date of my complaint shows. I almost instantly wrote the complaint before it got out of

040control. >> And that was based on your firsthand seeing it posted on her. >> That is correct. Thank you. Other questions? >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Hello everybody. I'm not a public speaker. Bear with me. >> My name is Christy Vaughn. This is now my third statement regarding the post made by Aaron Gudge. Based on your perception of Charlie Kurt's beliefs, you condone the loss of his life. Regardless of what you believe, we are all people made in the image of God and every life has value regardless of our differences. I hope you do understand that the world is full of many people with many thoughts and views and perception of these thoughts and views is palatable but not always correct. What you thought he stood for is inaccurate, but you still believed

041it. You found it hateful, hurtful, and wrong. That was your perception. And to you, that means, as you quoted, the world is better off without him. However, there are many people who may think the same thing about your thoughts and views based on their own perception. Are they justified to condone the same thing towards you? And what about kids at the school? Many of them may find their peers thoughts and views hateful, hurtful, and wrong also based on their own perception. Does that justify murder and a heartless response to it? I truly hope your answer to these questions are no. What kind of message do you think your post convey to young minds that don't agree with others? What kind of world do you think this mindset will create? Is this world Is this the

042world we want to live in in our schools? And is this the mindset we want to foster inside the hearts and minds of children, which will inevitably pour out and create the world they live in, too? Because a lot of different people believe in a lot of different things in the world and always will. Demonizing people, weaponizing differences of opinion, and condoning violence is not the answer. Children are young, their brains are not fully developed, and they are impressionable and searching for answers. We all know this. As leaders of children, you should know this and you are all responsible for protecting them while at school just while we are at home. I know each person is allowed to have their own opinions. It is a free country with free speech. There are many who will

043say that you too are exercising your right to free speech and you were and you did and you have the freedom to do so without harmful consequences. We absolutely wish no harm on you. We hope you grow and learn to see the world and all its differences of people with genuine tolerance and love. Hate is never the solution. Free speech should not result in hate or violence, but it can still carry civic consequences, especially when this speech is posted by a leader in the education system on a public platform that many children have access to. Leaders and educators should be held to a higher standard considering the minds they are helping shape in this divisive and chaotic atmosphere we live in. With the rise of school shootings and violence division in our country and hate

044of bounty truly concerns me that you thought it was a good idea to toast these statements to a public social media platform that impressionable children have access to. For me and many others, this highlights your current inability to make wise choices and carry out this position respectfully. We can all change and grow. That is the hope for us all. But until then, when the lives and minds of innocent children are at risk, we must be diligent in who we allow into the ship conditions. Also, it doesn't make sense to me that some to some people death as a result of free speech is okay. Yet stepping down from a voluntary position for the sake and safety of a school is not. Again, we wish no ill towards you. We simply don't think you are help

045you are fit to help lead a school district. Your words reflect a heart and mind that are not open to making careful decisions for children boldly comprehending the power of thoughts spoken out loud. The tongue has the power of life and death. Words do matter. Words have power. Children are listening and watching especially the most lost and vulnerable among them. We are all leaders in our homes and schools and we should all be guarding our hearts and careful with the words that come out of them. If you cannot do that, you should not lead. As a side note regarding the comments and what you claim to lead, I strongly encourage all of you in the field of education to learn the valuable skill of researching a person's stance in its entirety before coming to conclusions.

046Ask questions. Have civil conversations. Try to understand the other person on a human level. Research the whole story and not just parts of it or opinions of others. You have the right to not do any of this, but that is not wise. Half truths are still a lie and nothing fruitful in a value can be built on lies. We should all seek truth and humanity in all learning or at least I hope we will. We fully understand have no power to remove a person. We ask that you step down. >> Thank you very questions any >> sorry. So, first off, I want to tell you did a good job. >> I know you were very nervous the first time, but you like did Thank you for coming in, Steve. I appreciate you putting yourself in,

047you know, how scary that can be. Um, and so I I am just trying to ascertain as far as like the public versus private sector of Facebook where you saw the the posted your >> I am not personal friends with her. So, I saw it once it got reposted. So on the public part, right? So not in the titles. >> Okay. >> So after right distributed, >> right? >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, Christie. >> Okay. Very framework. Members of the board, thank you for this opportunity to speak. In reference to the earlier comments, this issue at hand has nothing to do with Miss Judge's right to the freedom of speech. As a private citizen, she has the right to say or post whatever she wants. However, once she chose to serve the public,

048she accepted a higher ethical standard. And although the Constitution does protect Miss Sketch from being arrested by the government for her words, it does not protect her from being held accountable for her post that betrays public values, trust, and respect. Leadership in public education carries both privilege and heavy responsibility. Schoolboard members are entrusted with shaping policies that affect our students, guiding the values of our schools, and representing our community with professionalism and integrity. The expectation within the Paloma School Board District um I'm sorry, within the Paloma School District board member standard of conduct is clear when stating that a board member will treat and address the public with respect on social media. Number 21. Sadly, Miss Gudge used her platform to celebrate the death of a public figure by posting that some men improve the

049world only by leaving it. To be clear, a father, a husband, a brother, and a son was murdered. He was taken from his family in an act of unthinkable cruelty and cowardice. To then see a leader in our school system not only publicly rationalize and dismiss this tragedy, but to celebrate it is both sickening and dangerous to all of us. Regardless of one's personal political regardless of one's personal politics or opinions about that individual, the act of publicly applauding his death is cruel, undignified, and entirely inconsistent with the behavior expected of an elected leader in education. This post does not merely reflect poor judgment. Her callous disregard for human life and dignity puts our students, families, and community values directly in harm's way. Miss Gudge Miss Gudge obviously real um realized this post would cause

050damage and have potential consequences based on the fact that she quickly deleted it. But the damage had already been done. Let me explain the harm done and why she must be held accountable for her words. Number one, Miss Edge is a role model for our student. Every board member is a visible representative of not just policies, but values within our community. When students see a leader rejoice in crime, it models the normalization of hostility, intolerance, and contempt. This directly undermines the lessons of respect, empathy, and civic engagement our schools strive to teach. The children in our community should feel safe. They should be taught about respect, courage, and human decency. Instead, Miss Judge Post creates a hostile environment that could encourage bullying, harm, or even killing with um others with differing viewpoints if one thinks

051that would improve the world. Number two, community trust. Trust in this board has been shaken. Fomoth board members represent the Fomoth community and your personal social media posts reflect on the district and community as a whole. Your words carry weight and you don't speak for yourself. You represent every student, parent, and teacher in this district. Trust is both broken beyond repair due to her divisively worded post that dishonors and misrepresents the dead coupled with the quote that justifies violence. This kind of rhetoric erodess public confidence, polarizes our community, and makes families question whether the board can govern fairly and responsibly. Paloma students deserve leaders who focus on education, not controversy. Number three, Miss violated professional standards. As a board member, especially a board chair, dignified conduct, mutual respect, and integrity of the office must be

052upheld. Publicly celebrating, promoting, excusing, or normalizing not just violence, but a public execution stands in direct opposition to these standards. It damages the reputation of the Poma School District and it undermines the credibility of this board. Number four, distraction from education. Instead of focusing on academic achievement, safety, and the opportunity for all students, our community and school board is now distracted with controversy. This diverts time and energy away from students, the very people this board was elected to serve. This is not a matter of free speech. The FOMO community values free free expression and diverse viewpoints. This is a matter of accountability for her words. There's a clear line between disagreement and indeed. When an elected official crosses that line in a way that damages trust, harms the district's reputation, and sets a toxic example

053for students, responsible courses pain. This is also not about politics. This is about basic human decency. This is about who we are and what we stand for. Our students watch us closely. They see how adults handle conflict, how leaders model values, and how communities respond to misconduct. Keeping this schedule in office signals that cruelty and disrespect are acceptable in leadership and that accountability to standards of conduct are not upheld. How can we then expect a different standard of respect for our students to follow? Let us show the next generation that this level of misconduct has no home with leadership and that when someone crosses that line, we will not stand by in silence because our children are worth it. By resigning, Miss Miss can put students and community above ego and politics. She can allow

054the district to move forward with leadership that unites rather than divides, builds trust rather than erodess it, and models the integrity our youth and community deserve to see. Members of this school district, why would we hold a school board member to a lower level of accountability than the students she's supposed to serve? If a student doesn't abide by school policy, there are consequences. Yet somehow when a leader does this, people rush to defend it as free speech. That's not accountability. That's hypocrisy. Freedom of speech does not protect Miss Judge from the consequences of disrespecting the public. And your action needs to ask for her immediate removal from the board. This would affirm that we hold our leaders to standards of ethics and professional conduct, including integrity and dignity. For the sake of our students, our

055schools, and the reputation of our community, Miss Gudge must step down to restore the trust and shift focus back to the students. The credibility of this board, the integrity of our schools, and the safety of our community demand nothing less. By remaining in office, a clear and dangerous message is sent by each one of you that cruelty is not only tolerated, but that it's accepted. that words don't matter and that leadership no longer means responsibility. By asking for a resignation, you will demonstrate that respect for the public and accountability matter. You have a personal responsibility to the youth in this community and you hold the reputation that this school board embodies. Each one of you has an opportunity to be a leader worth following. Whether that means stepping out of the way or standing in

056the gap to protect our students from those who would promote violence if they thought it would improve the world. For all that's at stake in our community and for the commitment to our students, I respectfully and humbly call on Miss Gudge to resign. >> Thank you. Questions? I'll go back to what we said before is that I just want to make it clear that the board can't do any right. Um and I know that a lot of people are holding the board wanting to hold the board accountable for what happens from here forward. There's nothing we can do to ask her to step down or to enforce her to step down. So, I I guess I I just want to make sure that we shouldn't be accountable for something one of us did when the

057rest of us didn't do it. >> But it reflects all of you. >> Understood. Understood. And I do know that. But I also don't want it reflecting us because we're not doing anything. It's because we cannot. >> This should be directed questions. >> Sorry. Yes. Yes. >> Sherry, thank you for coming. So, you I'm gonna ask the same question as to where you saw the social media post first. You were friends with Miss Bed or if you saw it after the fact after it was disseminated. >> Yes. I'm not sure that why it matters, but I did um see it as a public post and it was a post throughout Oregon. So >> So it was a post that was taken from her >> and due to the recall process and needing to have actual

058factual information, I researched out the person who initially posted from her account and did find a source. Okay, thank you. >> Any questions? >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, Michelle reads. Hi, my name is Michelle Ree and I have here I'm flowing. Um, just thank you for the school board for taking the time to listen. We do appreciate it. Your time is valuable. I want to start out by saying as a member of our local community, our small city, I want the same things you do. I want to live in a place where neighbors help each other, where our leaders look out for the best things for those they represent. All of us must do our part to be moral upstanding citizens. Those who are elected here to represent the phalomic community on the

059school board have a responsibility more than average citizens. These are quoted I took them from the Oregon School Boards Association. They're from the important principles for board members. The child comes first. School boards are community members. School board members function as a board, not individually. School board members are the people's representatives. Abiding by code of conduct and board member ethics is important. This is from a different association of school boards. The school board creates a positive image for and within the district. The school board maintains awareness of community values and interests. With these guidelines in mind, I came here to address the post that I read from our schoolboard chair. Yes, I do agree Facebook is considered a place and a way to express personal views. However, when you are elected by your neighbors and

060community, as many have said already, to represent them on the school board, you now hold in your hands a greater responsibility. And you are more wellknown than an average citizen. It's not a matter of can I say this, but should I say this? The post by the schoolboard chair is being painted as just a matter of opinion. So again, I call to attention the actual words that were written after Charlie Kirk was brutally murdered. She wrote, "Some men improve the world only by leaving it." If we look at this statement, some men in this case would mean Charlie Kirk because that was what the post was about. The words leaving it mean dying. So the statement actually says Charlie Kirk proved the world by dying. As a school board chair elected to represent the people

061of this community, this is a morally reprehensible statement. Sometimes we share a post without thinking about what it truly means. But not only did Miss Guz share this, she added more statements to back it up. She shared it because it is what she thinks. If Miss Judge thinks Charlie Kirk improved the world by dying, does she think other people who teach and agree with his views should die to improve the world? Is this how she represents the people of this community? I asked the board members to please ask Miss Sketch to step down as chair to the question I know is coming. I did see it on a public post. However, that's the way Facebook works. You're supposed to post and share to each other. I share pe people's other people's statements all the time.

062>> To be clear, it was a screenshot. >> To be clear, it was a post that's shared by another person. So again, >> I think it's appropriate that it was it was appropriate that it was shared. It's appropriate that others knew. >> Um, and as a citizen and as a resident of this town, I understand that we elected all of you to be here. Um, I think that asking someone to step down is appropriate and I understand that it's her choice to me. Um, but clearly this community is shaken and we need leaders who are willing to say that's the line we don't cross. >> Thank you. >> Hold up. Now for questions. >> Oh, >> could you Yeah. question. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Thank you for your >> um I'm just going to

063confirm that the three I called out earlier that didn't put up their hand are still not here. Ron or Julie OG, Davin Silverman, and Amanda. Okay. So, at this point, um, uh, again, I'll just remind them, um, sorry. Um, do the board members have any other questions of the complaints before we Okay. All right. Hearing no further questions, the hearing uh, is now concluded and the board will begin its deliberation. Oh, yes. Sorry. That was the line down. All right, you gave a chance. Sorry. Um, all right. Yeah, I turned the page turn. Sorry, judge is now your opportunity. You have 20 minutes. We'll give you five minutes. First, I want to apologize to district staff, educators, students, community, and my fellow board members for this disruption the situation has caused. I deeply regret the

064divisiveness that has arisen and acknowledge the added burdens this has placed on our district community. I'm deeply saddened by others having to experience the echoes of commentary and anger from this situation. I recognize although I did not intend for any of this, the impact remains. Some may not accept or believe my apology, but it is sincerely given. If I could do things differently, I would. I have chosen to hold this hearing in open session to allow for the airing of grievances against me in public, to encourage transparency and honesty, and to finally have a chance to speak directly to our community. While what has been said about me in the public discourse is within everyone's first amendment rights, which I defend as hardly for others as for myself, I am grateful to finally have the

065opportunity to speak publicly and provide facts as well as my personal reflections. The fact that my post was shared such a huge audience without the context of who I am as a person is regrettable, but was entirely out of control. While I have your attention, let me provide that context by sharing some of my fundamental beliefs. Violence is never acceptable. Freedom of speech is fundamental to our society. I believe in America, the Constitution, and our electoral processes. All people are worthy of dignity and respect. Every child has the right to a free, accessible, and equitable education. Children deserve safety at home and at school. They deserve strong support systems and access to quality food, health care, and adults who love and celebrate them for who they are. Expanding and protecting rights improves everyone's lives. We

066are all stewards of this world and we have a responsibility to leave it better than we found it. I don't withhold my care because of a difference of political opinion or religious convictions. My supportive freedoms and my respect are not reliant on us having the same views or religion. I'm the child of a wildly liberal mother and an intensely conservative father and I don't love one of them more than the other because of their views. I believe it is possible and necessary to hold the following truths at once. I have the right to speak personally and I have the responsibility to consider how my words may affect public trust. In the eyes of some, I have failed to do that. However, I must be clear that while the only business before the board this evening

067is a hearing of complaints, I have received dozens of messages from members of this community who have spoken in support of my right to freedom of speech and for my vocal support of the historically underserved and vulnerable people in our district. Many of the messages come from people who I have never met before. Some are from past students who've grown into amazing citizens of the world. And many are from people who do know my heart and my compassion for people. Thank you so much for your support during this genuinely terrifying experience. I will not flinch away from the loud voices because they cannot be allowed to succeed in drowning out the quiet homes. Everyone experiences a different version of a person dependent on what they show to you and your own lived experiences. As for

068people's view of me, I try to show up honestly. I don't hide my brightly colored hair, exuberance, love of art and education, or how deeply I care about people. Some people now think that I stand for hate and I tolerate violence, which is heartbreaking because I don't. I now realize that similarly, my experience of Mr. Kirk is very different from others experience of him. I wasn't aware of him other than as a pundit, debater, and someone whose opinions and words do not align with my own deeply held faith. I am now aware that he was idolized. I genuinely did not realize how wide that gap between our experiences of them was. On the morning of September 11, I posted on Facebook privately to friends only a shared post from the artist Laxman which included a

069quote attributed to Oscar Wild and the artist's reflective statement. The quote said, "Some men improve the world by leaving it." And the artist statement read, "I can choose to not celebrate, but also not be sad." Initially, I did not add commentary of my own, but later edited the post to include something I had written in response to an argument in a comment with my cousin. I had no idea that my family squabble would reach a national spotlight. My words, for the record, were, "I will not mourn someone who's been featured in the face of grieving mothers the day their child their children were murdered. I will not mourn someone who would have preferred my own child not exist. I will not mourn someone who is teaching young people that empathy is weak and civil rights

070should not be afforded to all. I feel deeply sad for his children. I do not mourn him. And those were the only words that were my actual words and not a shared post just for clarity. I received a call from Superintendent Holidayiday early that afternoon informing me that my post was causing concern among community members. I checked my board email, saw one single email from a concerned community member asking me to remove the post, and I did so immediately and and issued a public apology at the same time. I responded directly to the community member who had reached out with concern. I was confused as to how this person had even seen my post because it wasn't a public post. I offered to make a statement of apology at that evening's board meeting, but was

071advised to stick to the meeting agenda and not derail the business of the board. I only later found out that a screenshot of my friend only post on my personal non-schoolboard affiliated account was taken by someone I thought was a friend and sent to someone else in our community who then publicly posted it to her own account. After that, the screenshots of my post continued to be exuberantly shared by a small group of community members and intentionally posted in groups known to fment public anger. From there, it circulated on various social media platforms, eventually being picked up by an organized extremist far account. That post has received nearly 1 million views. I was swept into a national, organized, and well-funded movement to doc, fire, and censor tens of thousands of American voices, especially those tied

072to education. I was added to a website labeling me a murderer built with the specific intent to get me fired and punished. This situation has escalated far beyond anything I could have possibly anticipated, leading to harassment and threats. My personally identifiable information, including my home address, has been shared with malicious intent online by actors both known and unknown. I've received threats of violence, including rape and death. I've been stalked online, menaced, harassed, and defamed. I've been told to kill myself. My appearance has been insulted repeatedly and with a distinct lack of creativity. Homophobic and transphobic slurs have been used against me. One comment left on my mother's social media account stated that they hoped she would have to hear the sound of my neck snapping. Another said that they hoped I was out collecting rounds.

073I've been called a demonic force, subhuman and it. And one community member suggested I be chased out of town with torches and pitchforks. Dehumanizing people through our choice of language makes cruelty easier. But my words were considered hateful and inciting violence. I don't agree that there's a correlation between not mourning someone and condoning gun violence or homicide. Violence on school campuses is worsening every year and I feel increasingly helpless to do anything about it. I do not condone calls to violence or murder and I believe that our that a decade or more of knowing some of the people in this community in this room who spoke tonight would have made that clear. I'm afraid every day for the safety of children in this community in the face of violent rhetoric and discrimination. I repeat, I

074don't celebrate Mr. Kirk's death and I feel absolutely terrible for his children to have lost their father in such a public and brutal way. No one should experience violence or discrimination for their identity or their closely held moral and ethical beliefs beliefs. No one should silence someone for not believing the same thing they believe. All of our children deserve an inclusive and equitable environment that provides safety, respect, and access to education, health, and well-being. A few people have said I didn't know who Charlie Perk was, and I'm willing to be wrong and learn. So, I spent several hours watching his podcast and college campus appearances, and I did find one thing with which I can agree with Mr. Kirk. My purpose in life is greater since becoming a mother. While I have been advocating for

075civil rights since I myself was a teenager, becoming a parent strengthened me in a resolve that my greater purpose is to serve all children, to do whatever I can to make sure that all children are safe, loved, and valued for exactly who they are. to make their way in the world easier to advocate and fight for everyone to have equality and rights. I believe in the importance of public engagement and I think it's important for the concerned complainants voices to be heard by the board. But at the same time, I question the appropriateness of whether a governmental body regulating or censoring private speech outside of considering whether policy has been violated is appropriate. If my post had been public or made from an official board Facebook page or an account linked to my role on

076the board, this would be an entirely different conversation. I worry deeply about this becoming a precedent, that censoring speech is acceptable when you don't agree with someone, showing our children that one post on social media becomes unforgivable, that freedom of speech only applies to some, but not all. That only the people with whom you disagree should be held accountable for their words. I believe I've addressed some components of most of the complaints this evening, but I would like to address a few things individually. Um, I know Miss Lindsay was not here this evening, but the board members did receive her complaint, and I would like to address some of the things within that. I categorically deny several implications within Miss Lindsay's complaint. Her complaint contains dishonest rhetoric, including distortions of what I actually wrote and

077false characterizations intended to cause reputational harm. It's important to distinguish between the impact of a private post and assertions about intent that are not supported by the facts. The quote provided in Miss Lindsay's complaint is also inaccurate and in my opinion intentionally so utilizing manipulative bad faith language. The implication that I think all men should die is patently false and defamatory. As a daughter, a wife, and a mother, I find that accusation egregious. While I will agree that there was callousness in my post, the idea that I was using my private social media account to promote hate and intolerance is a gross mischaracterization of my intentions and values. Additionally, u Miss Brown is not here this evening, but she quoted direct policy in her complaint and I would like to address that. Um uh this

078is in regard to policy PDF board member standards of conduct and the language that was quoted in Miss Brown's complaint is not actually the language from our own district policy. So I am referring to our district policy in this um point four respect the right of other board members to have opinions and ideas which differ. I respect not only the right of the other board members to have opinions and ideas that differ, but I enjoy hearing other board members perspectives and considerations in our discussions and deliberations. I might not always agree, but I'm always respectful. Our ability to serve every student in this district relies on a board that represents a range of viewpoints. Serving on this board for the past four years has given me the opportunity to meet people outside of the echo

079chamber of my own experiences, and I have been made better for it. use of social media, websites, and other electronic communication, excuse me, use social media judiciously, respectfully, and in a manner that does not violate Oregon public meetings laws. The policy in this the policy language is quite subjective for this. One clear and undisputed point is that I did not violate Oregon public meeting laws. Where interpretation comes into play is whether my post rises to the level of being disrespectful or injudicious. And reflecting on this standard, I sought outside guidance on how judicious views is generally understood under Oregon's rules. The key points are Oregon's public meeting laws applies to deliberation or decision-making about official board business. And again, my friends only post on my personal account unrelated to board matters does not trigger those

080provisions. Posts that clearly represent personal opinion, particularly when not referencing district business, fall within a board member's rights. Based on this, I believe my private host did not violate the intent of the standard. And point 21. When posting online or to social media, board members will will treat and refer to other board members, staff, students, and the public with respect and will not post confidential information about students, staff, or district business. This provision does not apply to the incident in question. At no point did I treat or refer to board members, staff, students, or the public with disrespect, nor did I post any confidential information. I've already stated this several times, but my intention was not for my personal opinion to have been shared publicly. And I now fully realize that privacy is an illusion

081in the online for the recording. >> Hey, so I didn't want to interrupt director, but a moment ago we I heard someone whisper liar. That is exactly the kind of personal attack that is completely unacceptable here. And I don't know what was just mumbled but whatever it is that is not appropriate and I will ask people to leave if you cannot behave yourself and follow the rules that we outlined at the beginning. We all Erin sat here while multiple complaintants shared their uh perspective. We are now going to listen while she gets to share her perspective. >> In closing, I take the board's standards seriously and I'm committed to upholding them. I respect the rights and perspectives of my fellow board members, district staff, students, and the public. My goal remains to serve the district

082with integrity and dedication to the educational needs of all students. This incident has made me aware that the standard for some is not the standard for all when it comes to online discourse, and I will be more cautious in what I post online moving forward. I've primarily used social media in a very unserious way. As a result of that perspective, I underestimated how dangerous things have become, and how close to the boiling point everyone is, how violent and spurious the comment section is. Please be careful and allow my experience to be a lesson in how dangerous and scary the internet can be. To my fellow board members and Superintendent Holiday, I am so sorry that you had to read so many troubling messages and experience the ripple effects of this. And to our district staff,

083I'm so sorry you were caught in the undercoat as well. I've learned a lot during this process. I've learned that apologies will never be enough for some people, but some people will quietly support you and believe in your heart. The voters of the Foma School District have elected me to this position twice. If it is now the will of the majority of this community to seek a recall vote for me to leave the poor through electoral processes, I will respect that. I want to reaffirm my commitment to this district. The work I do on this board is guided by a dedication to the educational needs of all students and not just those who share my personal views. >> Awesome. Thank you. In an effort to rebuild public trust, I have joined the nonprofit organization Braver

084Angels, whose mission is bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. I pledge to seek or to continue to seek education and community across the divide. Because there isn't a policy in place that allows my fellow board members to remove me as chair of the board and a good faith effort to restore public trust. I will be voluntarily stepping down as chair of this board effective immediately. I remain committed to serving on the board with honesty, respect, and dedication and support of all students and staff in the district. And uh since I have four minutes left, I wanted to share some of the messages that I received from community members. Um I was initially going to share some of the horrible things that were said. Um but I decided that

085I would rather share some beautiful things that were said to me. I just want to send a note of support to you. Thank you for being the voice of hundreds of people in the Paloma School community. I believe in freedom of speech. Don't let the loudness of angry people get to you. There are some who will purposely misunderstand no matter what is said. You have a lot of support and so many kiddos who are grateful for you. This will pass and the hateful ones will move on to something else. The rest of us will remain grateful for your work and efforts to make our community and world a better place. As a parent in the district, and these sorry these are separate quotes. I'm trying to pause in between them just to clarify. As a

086parent in the district, I am disappointed and want to apologize for the disgusting bullying you have all received from some of the community the past few days. While perhaps a little much for those who have no sense of irony, sure, but that doesn't warrant the reaction Aaron has received. Please know that while we might be quieter and not as present on social media, there are a lot of us who are grateful for an open-minded and accepting board. By can be an insular equity chamber, and I appreciate that you are all offering a view that is more representative of the rest of the community. This isolated group really believes they hold power. And please know they're just loud, not powerful. Thank you all for being a voice for the many and not just a few. This

087one is very long. Um, I will skip to the next one. Sorry. I'm just a mom in your district who wants to let you know that I support you. My husband put it well, but she seems totally reasonable and her comments reflect that. I don't know if I'm always totally reasonable, but I was just sent I wanted you to know there are many of us who are grateful to have your perspective on our board. We might not agree politically, but I think it's horrible what I at Liz of Tik Tok is trying to do. You're a good person and keep using your first don't let these people silence you. There are more um but that's probably enough. Um yeah, >> thank you. Um so we'll open it up to questions from the board governors too.

088Director Edge. >> Okay. in your state when you said that you would be sitting down as for chair but not as a board member that sounds correct. I just wanted to clarify. Um and I guess just for my own although you said it multiple times. Um I feel as though on the record they didn't have to if the intent of your post was to condone violence in any way. >> Absolutely not. And I do recognize that that is the interpretation of it from some people, for many people possibly. Um I don't want to um minimize that, but it was not my intention. >> Did you get it? Sorry. You have a gold star for it. Uh other questions for director Okay, with that we'll close the Ethereum product and um and director Gunj I do

089apologize for almost skipping your testimony please. Sorry. Um okay so again after hearing no more questions we'll conclude that part of the hearing. coming down now to board deliberations. Um so first uh the board uh so I would say we take this in two stages. First is uh you know there were uh general complaints about um chair or director judge's um statements. Um but then there were also specific complaints regarding the violation of board policy which um director judge addressed. Um but I think that is the first thing the board needs to do basically is um are we substantiating or not substantiating just like before the complaint that there was a violation of policy um for the record again I'll just um leave them uh it was at least one complaint I can't recall multiple

090complaint that cited these board policies but um uh again it was it's policy um BVF and it's a board member standard of conduct. Um item number four is respect the right of other board members to have opinions and ideas which differ. Number 20, um use use social media websites or other electronic communication judiciously, respectively, respectfully, and in a manner uh that does not violate Oregon's public meeting laws. Um, and number 21, when posting online or up to social media, board members will treat and refer to other board members, staff, students, and the public with respect uh and will not post confidential information about students, staff, and district business. So, those are the three parts of the policy that are um that chair is being accused of violating. I would say we should talk through each

091of those um to address that's correct. So I might propose we just go through them one by one unless everyone has a different approach. Number four, respect the right of other board members to have opinions and ideas which differ. We have a sense that in this post that director of engine she violated that again the respect pardon respect the right of other board members to have opinions and ideas which did >> I don't mind yes I substantive. >> I would agree. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would I would compare with that. I never did I feel like her post restricted uh what that I could have an opinion or Okay. So, uh we can make a we'll go through all three of these, but at this point I'm hearing general consensus that uh we would not

092substantiate that one. Uh 20. Use social media, websites, or other electronic communication judiciously, respectfully, and in a manner that does not violate Oregon's public meeting. >> So, I'm adding the point that she did not in any way violate public law, at least to my understanding of public law. Um, so I think that it just it falls into the the beautiful. >> Thank you. vicious meeting. Check out it in all respect. >> We just I think that's a good point. We've got three three clauses there or three uh uh objects there. Uh I would agree. I think was there was nothing that violated public meeting laws of this. >> Well, and I read that one. I guess if you there's a comment in there. >> Well, we're just saying of those three we're setting aside there

093was no violation of public meeting law. >> Okay. Okay. But we'll go back and talk about I'm just trying to whether what do we all agree quickly that it's not and I don't think right. So I think we're all there's consensus on that. So now we're back to judiciously and respectfully. >> Okay. Yes. >> And I think we could I guess I shouldn't say we I believe that the use of social media definitely was not respectful at that time. So I think there's a there's a what word is um argument there that the social media is not used respectfully that time. >> Yeah I yeah I I would concur there obviously multiple people who have very good reason to uh feel like the post was disrespectful. Um and I would certainly argue not judicious. Um

094I you know I think Dr. Judge made a point that you know it was her private post which makes it then slightly more judicious. However, in the world of the there is no privacy on the internet. Um uh that when you post something and that potentially has the result of being inflammatory, you're you're questioning whether you were judicious. Any other I'm hearing at least some >> I agree. I Yeah, I think that I I fully believe that in the moment when that was posted it was not >> there was no injudicious or disrespect meant but I think that in retrospect it can be as good of those things. Um unfortunately >> okay so I'm hearing at least some part of 20 has been substantiated 21 uh when posting online or to social media board members

095will treat and refer to other board members staff students and the public with respect um and will not post confidential information about students staff or district business we can defense of that last clause clearly there was nothing confidential about students nor I think we defense um that refer to other board members, staff or students. Um the question I think is the public um was uh when posting online or to social media, board members will treat and refer to the public with respect. Um, that I think is a question. >> And I I sorry if there was a bit of a violation there for me. >> I think I think reasonable people can feel that the post was not respectful to members of the public, certain members of the public. with it. This is why I

096asked the question repeatedly about where the push was going is because I think it was a real great area about Facebook being >> I think that's a good observation for sure. I I'm just like disappointed in the fact that it was screenshotted and shared screenshot and shared in such a way. Um I don't know. I guess I could have asked for my question. I didn't apologize. Whoever on your social media posts do ask me like conservative or the post itself. Um, it's been mulling over in my head for weeks now about just like the the process by which that was disseminated. This speaks volumes to me about a disconnect within our community. That was really concerning me. Um I'm really concerned that instead of people who were considering friends um having a discourse with the

097person that they quote unquote friends with that it went straight to a dissemination with the greater world which I personally think brought on the incident of violent intent that we saw so agreed egregiously in some of the communication. So that I that is incredibly disheartening. But as far as being treated with respect, it's a two-way road. Wasn't respectful either way. >> I would agree. But that's >> I got out. I got out of balance. >> The rest. Yes. Exactly. Worried about >> I don't I don't know if this is appropriate. Just cut me off. It's not >> I did post a public apology as soon as it was brought to my attention and was incredibly respectful of everyone who posted in there. It only came down once I started receiving threats as I mentioned in

098my testimony. Um, point of clarification and if that was not appropriate, all of you just wipe that for. >> So, let's let's just hone in on 21. Um, where do we each stand on whether that one is substantiated? >> And weigh in. I um parts of it weren't but I believe in general >> I think it's really just the with treating the public with respect that's the only one all the other are irrelevant >> that's exactly >> you would substantiate that one element yeah >> see how I start there >> forward much like 20 I mean I feel like that's the key >> word Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I uh >> same along the whether it was intended to go public or not. >> Yes. >> Okay. So based on that consensus, what I would look

099to is a motion um similar to what we did before um to substantiate or not substantiate the complaints. I think the motion is we would substantiate the complaints that the director judge should violate um certainly the spirit if not the letter of um BDF uh point 20 and 21 a motion on that >> and are we going to set are we going to break those down or just >> No, I don't think I think >> I think we I what I heard we had consensus on those two points we agreed for was not. >> No, I meant in those 2021 those parts that we did. >> No, I don't think it's I don't think it's Yeah, exactly. There was a violation. Yeah. >> I'll move that we substantiate the violation of whatever BB-20 and 21.

100Okay. >> Second. >> Okay. Further discussion. Okay. All those in favor of substantiating those claims? Sorry about um I had a question but >> Oh well no that's fine if I can jump to if I can >> no it's okay um so with substantiation what does that >> that's it oh we at that point now we'll go and talk about next steps and if I can make that clear sorry this is just basically was there a violation of policy and then we discuss what actions if any we want to take >> so yeah this is purely since you know it's be careful here because this is not a trial But basically, you know, there the there's the verdict person in the right or wrong and then what is the what is the function and so

101this is just the what is there a violation because there's no point talking about sanctions if we don't think there was any violation. >> Yeah. Okay. We have a question here. >> Yeah, I think >> okay. So now call the question on uh was um the complaint uh substantiated on BBF 20 and 21. All in favor? Okay. So that's three. Um all those opposed. Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. >> It's just Yeah, that would be probably the most appropriate to make that decision. Okay. So that vote was three yays, one nay and one statement. Okay. So now um uh we move into the potential uh sanctions. Um there's been a lot of discussion. Um so I um I'm going to go back to my script here because I've done a lot of time working on this.

102Um so now uh the board should discuss any statements uh or steps uh we wish to take in relation to chair judges and now director judge's actions as they relate to these complaints. At this point, I will point out or really remind the audience that the board has no ability whatsoever to remove a duly elected member of the board. I think everyone now understands. Furthermore, our board policy has no provision for removing a board chair from that role or calling for an election with new officers. Um uh but that's not relevant since chair judge has already stepped aside. It's now director. Um so by both law and policy um we are truly limiting the actions we can take um beyond censure and making requests of u of uh of director judge. Um the way I

103see it is there's basically kind of four tiers um that we're discussing. One is just a simple motion to condemn the the words that were posted. Um that's you know probably the most innocuous. There's also the formal statement of of censure of director gudge. Um we have draft language around that. Um we we could have asked for her to step aside as chair as part of that. Obviously she's already done that. And then the most extreme of course is Leah's board can ask her to step aside as a member of the board. Um but that is merely a request of the board not anything beyond that. So uh so you really take out one of those she has already resigned his chair. Um so now uh we're looking at again just a simple motion to

104condemn the action and then there's formal censure and then finally request which would be part of the board. Um yeah and then of course as points out there to our attorney points out to us there's we can take no action as well based on the fact that she already has resigned. Um so >> okay so I will open it up >> and I I know I asked before I'm still confused what a censure is. It it's basically a a public hand slap to put it very simply. It's right Congress does it and censure a member of Congress and it just said you shouldn't have done this. Shame on you. Think better next time. If we as a board condemn it and are disappointed that's all it is. It's simple. >> So if we if we

105agree to motion we will take we >> Yeah. And we have wait I I have wording I can read out that seem pretty standard >> is essential to the the >> the board member >> correct yeah and the first thing would be the very you know minimal would be the statement of condemnation of the statement that was made right there's that one then there's the next te up would be the censure and the next up would be the censure with the request to step So we'll hold that up to we are and like I said I I have and actually you folks have received in the script that I sent you there the you know standard censure form or censure statement I should say. So we want to consider that but again that's just an

106option. It's not one of our preops. >> Well, I guess I guess I came prepared to ask Garrett to step down as chair, which she's done. I don't I don't really understand the censure. It just sounds like it sounds like we're already saying we don't agree with it. We found some violations. I don't know what the censure holds or what it means. So, I guess I don't it if you dubbed that mistake. So, no, no, no. It it it I mean it literally is it it not it's a statement that the board has voted on, you know, the condemning action and and and so it's it puts the board on record for making that statement. >> So, I guess I I guess that's kind of what I'm saying. I I my opinion is a board

107member. We did we don't condone that a >> So, again, I think we can we could just have a a motion of, you know, we just condemn that what was posted. Um that's just that basically says, you know, we certainly as a board don't support that kind of language. That really is more about the post itself. The censure would say, you know, shame on director judge for doing it and and we vote on that and to public record there's that public. Yeah. >> So the hospital motion defenses included. >> Yeah. is the like that whole time. >> Uh well, I I would just so we all know we're voting on Yeah. You want me to do that? Let's see if we want to. Okay. So, this is a big possible motion potential. This is up

108to the board. But, um the FA school dis school district board of directors understand that the board's responsibility to monitor the behavior of each board member acting in the capacity of board member. Board members have a public responsibility to conduct themselves responsibly with respect to interactions with students, other board members, and school district employees. This public responsibility does not allow board members to engage in conduct that violates board policy regarding interactions with district students, staff, or community members. In paragraph, in consideration of the above, the board of directors has determined that Erin Judge, an elected member of the former school board of directors, acted in a manner inconsistent with the values and policies of this board, which we did just vote on. Uh, and the dis uh and the district by posting on her Facebook

109account inappropriate and harmful statements regarding the death of Charlie Kirk in violation of board policy BFF, specifically sections 20 and 21. In consideration new par in consideration thereof the board of director of school district do hereby condemn this conduct and action of director judge and by passage of this message to this motion to censure do you hereby censure director judge. The censure is a tool used to separate the liability of the entire board the governing body from the actions of individual board members >> because of how it reads. Y >> um I would like to make a motion that we send >> I would like it to be on public record that that we don't >> well and again we we you could just simply take that we condemn the statement. >> Understood. >> Okay.

110Just make sure that's one and then the center be the next level up really directs it. Correct. Good. >> Right. >> Okay. So, we have a motion to u and you would you adopt the statement as I read it? >> Okay. >> Um do we have a second? >> I'll second that statement. Do you statement? >> Okay. Discussion >> I I was reading this earlier and I was um I should I try it. I feel like the center is like media like I really understand it. Um but by extension director member bench I don't know what >> director member I think some documents even refer to us as trustees but I those are interchangeable member director >> trustee >> what is the like like the the length of like the center is like a permanent

111record and then it's like >> yeah I mean it's just a piece of public give you an example. Yeah. >> And so, sorry, but were there to be uh any sort of concern or action in the future that would be along the same line? >> I mean, nothing other than there's already been a censure, >> right? >> Yeah. It's not like three strikes and they're out. >> Yes. Exactly. I mean, again, it's Yeah. It's a pretty passive thing the board is doing. The way I understand it as you as it is read and the way I understand it is the censure is separating the board the board as individuals not as a one collective I guess is how I how I read that or how I understand that is this the censure is just separating

112it's not the school board it was directed to one of the people on the board not entire >> but it's the board saying we don't agree with what we did and we don't want to do Absolutely. That that is fundamentally what we're doing >> which is what we said on number 21 and 22. >> So we we found a violation of policy and now the question is are we going to answer and again a censure is is just a public slack that is the extent of what we can do. I have one question here just and my understanding was that all actions of individual board members are are actions of those individual board members. So that last sentence of the paragraph is just confusing. >> There is no board member who acts for the entire

113board. So >> each board member acts individually when we each vote separately that so that part was just kind of used that last the censure is a tool used to separate the liability of the entire board during the action individual. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean you're right. I mean we as individuals have no authority but we certainly have influence I think >> that's a general statement basically says the board is not responsible for the >> we're basically confirming what it's >> okay just a declaration of >> it's a it's a declaration of reality which basically >> thank you I appreciate number of resolutions I've had vote on that basically declared water is wet to the sky and blue but >> other >> yes okay any more discussion okay so I will remind us we have

114we have substantiated the complaint that board policy was violated in BFF 20 and 21 and we now have the motion before us to adopt this motion of censor censure already acknowledging that no we're not including in it that director step aside as chair because she already done that um so I would unless there's further discussion I will call the question okay all those in favor of adopting the motion of censure as I read it okay gates and one extension um okay uh with that I'll bring this special uh meeting of the uh Someone needs to delegate authority to provide a written response because we promise you. >> Yes. Yes. Sorry. Okay. So I Yeah. Sorry. >> But are we kidding? You're going to make me do it. >> Oh, so we >> put Yeah. basically.

115Yeah. So we need a formal response uh you know particularly for those people who aren't here but even the people are here um you know just outlining what action the board took and so and my commitment would be that we get that out by the end of the week so yes so I have a motion and a second to delegate that to me any objections to that n okay then um okay so with that I'll bring the special meeting of the school board to a close should have against that. >> Um, all right. Sorry. Read a third time. With that, I will bring this special meeting of the P school board to a close. Um, I appreciate the community's interest in these key issues and their respectful participation in the complaint process um and hearing

116tonight. Overall, the behavior was excellent tonight. I really appreciate that. Um, before the end of the week, uh, I will send an official letter of response to all the complaintants um, in the two matters we consider tonight on the final decisions and actions of the board. Seeing nothing else. You name the jerk. exercise. Thank you. out there. I just put that piece of