The Christina School Board indefinitely suspended Superintendent Dan Shelton early Wednesday, drawing outrage from school employees and community members who packed into the Glasgow High School auditorium to show support for Shelton.
The vote — taken at nearly 3 a.m. at the conclusion of a chaotic, eight-hour meeting — leaves Christina without a leader just months before it plans to go to referendum in February to ask residents to approve a tax hike and an ambitious facilities upgrade plan.
“It’s going to tank the school district and set us up for another 20 years of trying to dig out from a terrible reputation that is the making entirely of this board,” board member Doug Manley said, expressing his anger over his colleagues’ vote.
The board’s action is the latest development in a months-long conflict between Shelton and Board President Donald Patton. Earlier this year, the sharply divided board narrowly agreed to suspend the superintendent for three days and later passed a no-confidence vote against him.
Shelton, who started as a teacher and principal in Christina and has been superintendent since 2020, is under contract until June 2025. On Wednesday, the board voted not to renew his contract after that and to put him on indefinite administrative leave.
Patton, Alethea Smith-Tucker, Naveed Baqir and Y.F. Lou all voted in favor of sanctioning Shelton. Manley, Monica Moriak and new board member Amy Trauth all vehemently opposed it.
The opposing board members and several members of the public pleaded with Patton to explain his reasoning for suspending Shelton.
“I asked our board leadership for evidence that Dr. Shelton has not been doing his job. I got a laundry list of what I perceive as grievances and slights and did not receive any hard evidence that he was not meeting his performance goals,” Trauth said. “Furthermore, I asked why he hasn’t been given any written formative feedback on his performance prior to this motion, and that was also met with shrugs.”
Patton repeatedly refused to explain his reasoning, even after Shelton waived his right to privacy.
“You can clap, you can yell, you can scream, you can do all you want to do, but we’re not discussing information about personnel that may end up in litigation,” Patton said, threatening to have state troopers remove any members of the public who continued to voice their displeasure.
Over the objections of Patton, Manley read aloud a letter the board sent Shelton after his three-day suspension in March. The letter mentioned several criticisms and disagreements, including that Shelton included his own contract in a list of contract renewals brought before the board for a vote, he used improper procedure in the hiring of a constable, he failed to correct a trend of errors in the human resources department and that he was heard remarking that he felt like resigning when Patton was named board president.
Lou said a district employee filed a complaint against Shelton in June, and he argued the administrative leave is necessary so the complaint can be investigated. However, Moriak responded that the investigation is already complete and found that the complaint could not be corroborated.
Prior to the vote, Shelton defended his record and that of his staff, and he noted that he stayed silent for months while board members questioned his integrity.
“My heart and my history run deep within the Christina School District, and that’s why I’ve been honored to have the opportunity to lead this outstanding organization,” Shelton said. “I sit before you this evening, tremendously proud of the work that we’ve accomplished and prepared to continue that work for the sake of our families and our kids.”
Shelton received a standing ovation from his supporters, many of whom showed up to the meeting wearing shirts reading “We stand with Dan” or holding signs emblazoned with Shelton’s face. Hundreds more people watched the meeting online.
Several Christina employees said Shelton is the leader they had been waiting for.
“Our district finally has positive momentum and collegiality that so many of us old heads have craved, needed and desired,” said Kristina MacBury, principal of Sarah Pyle Academy. “Our students finally have voice. Is that not what we’re here for?”
Katie Ghione, a teacher at McVey Elementary, said she fears retribution from the board but still felt like it was important to speak up.
“The school board is affecting our community in a negative way,” Ghione said. “There’s a vendetta taking precedence over what is important: the children.”
She, too, praised Shelton’s leadership, explaining she has worked under five superintendents.
“Dr. Shelton is the only one I feel has actually put in the effort to make our district better,” she said. “I feel like someone wants us to succeed and I feel like we’re on the right track.”
Ivanetta Jones, a retired educator and grandmother of three Christina students, noted that just two years ago, Shelton was honored as the state’s superintendent of the year.
“For the first time in decades, I’ve heard positive talk about this district from its employees and community members,” Jones said. “But recently, the drama that plagues Christina returned.”
Harrie Ellen Minnehan, a retired Christina teacher and board member, said the current board is “a disgrace” and warned members they are alienating the community members they rely on to support the district and approve the upcoming referendum.
“The last time there was this kind of discord with the board and the community complained, they were told from the dais, ‘If you don’t like what we’re doing, go start your own school,’” Minnehan said. “And they did. It’s called Newark Charter School. And they now have several thousand of your kids.”
Arisa White, the parent of a Christina student, said the board has turned the district into a laughingstock.
“Watching these meetings is worse than watching an episode of Housewives of Atlanta or the recent presidential debate,” White said. “Talk about secondhand embarrassment.”
State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton said suspending Shelton without due process is irresponsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The teacher’s union estimated it could cost $750,000 to buy out Shelton’s contract, hire an interim leader and conduct a search for a permanent replacement. And that’s not to mention the cost of a potential lawsuit.
“Be public servants, not tyrants,” Wilson-Anton said.
The board will meet July 18 to talk about what happens next. A superintendent search typically takes months to complete, so it’s likely the board will appoint an interim leader.
Until then, Patton said, the next person in line after Shelton is in charge.
Who’s that? Moriak asked.
“I have no idea,” Patton replied.
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