School staff air concerns, board decides for Broadnax anyway

A line of employees wrote letters to the school board stating serious concerns about hiring Rod Broadnax as the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s new superintendent, several of which were read at Monday night’s meeting.

They’re hiring him anyway.

The letters noted anonymous emails that circulated in the community, critical of Broadnax’s record, claims of professional achievement throughout his career and controversy at one community where he worked.

Carrie Derr, a longtime teacher who now oversees federal and state grant programs for the district, said she had been asked by several people to read their anonymous letters to the board.

In the first one, a teacher cited the email but said her concern predated it. She first became concerned after reading several news articles about Broadnax containing “words such as ‘frustration,’ ‘controversy,’ ‘swirling,’” the teacher wrote, “words associated with chaos and instability.”

Wrote another, “I was shocked by the amount of red flags that appear. This is not a matter of one huge red flag, but instead a combination of all of them that bring about the concerns for him being the new leader of our district.”

Included in the list of concerns were:

• only stayed one to two years max at previous districts,

• has a history of not fulfilling employment contracts,

• allegations from Clintondale Community Schools,

• possibility and threat of retaliation against staff members and community members who speak out,

• he wants more than our small district, which is just a stepping stone,

• has a history of unprofessional behavior and insubordination towards board and board chair at previous district,

• the possible taint his “internet image” will impose on this school district.

Another was not supportive of current leadership or the board, but said, “We need to move on with someone who has no baggage and can bring new energy, ideas, and strong genuine leadership to the district.”

“Based on his history, it looks like Mr. Broadnax may not be the best fit if they’re looking for someone with longevity,” wrote another. “I fear that brining in a new superintendent with controversy, founded or not, that is easy to find with a Google search, is not what is best for the already struggling image of Grand Coulee Dam School District.”

Jeremiah noted that Broadnax was terminated in 2015 for insubordination and he claimed there was a vendetta against him. “He claimed a vendetta in 2016, and he is claiming another such vendetta now,” he said.

As a levy committee member, Joe Tynan asked the board to consider, “If this all blows up in the district’s face, is the board confident in a levy renewal despite the blow to the district’s reputation?”

He said district critics could win a spot or two on the board by spinning a collective board misstep, which “would be a disaster for everyday staff.”

Several more spoke, none in favor of hiring Rodriguez Broadnax.

The board went into a closed “executive session” for an hour to discuss a student appeal and the Broadnax question.

At 7:30, the board came back into open session.

President Rich Black told those still present that the board had decided to “continue to offer” Broadnax a one-year contract.

“And we will see, as a community and a school district, how that goes,” he said.

He said the board had “quite a bit more information than you’ve seen.”

Black said he’d personally talked to people in his previous school districts. “There’s a lot of unfair stuff out there. Let’s just put it that way,” he said.

Black said that at the end of a year the board could decide to part ways with Broadnax, or, “if he’s proven himself a man of integrity,” the board would then consider hiring him for a longer term.

Director George LaPlace moved, and Director Alex seconded, to offer Broadnax the one year contract.

The vote was unanimous.