Medford School Board members on Thursday reviewed a pair of complaints filed by district Superintendent Bret Champion and a number of district employees against board member Michael Williams.

The complaints stemmed from an alleged heated discussion that occurred at district offices Oct. 15 between Champion and Williams and included concerns over Williams’ behavior while visiting district schools, and for wearing a work tool belt containing a pair of shears and a knife during school visits and board meetings.

Williams has been at odds with fellow board members since speaking out on the reassignment earlier this year of Medford police School Resource Officer Josh Doney. Board Chair Cynthia Wright read the first of the two complaints during Thursday’s regular board meeting. Champion left his seat at the table during the reading of both complaints and sat elsewhere during that portion of the meeting.

Williams was absent during the meeting, reportedly on the advice of his attorney.

Champion’s complaint centers around the Oct. 15 meeting between himself, Williams and board member Suzanne Messer, which he said covered a range of topics and concerns including safety and differential treatment of Williams compared to other board members. Champion said Williams, at one point, left his office and that he verbally directed Willims to return to his office. At one point, the conversation became louder and more heated with both Champion and Williams standing nose-to-nose, drawing the attention of district employees, according to the complaint.

Champion’s complaint also alleges that district employees who consulted after the incident were “nervous, uncomfortable or frightened,” and that one employee had questioned calling 911. Messer confirmed that during the Oct. 15 meeting, among other topics, she raised the issue of Williams wearing his tool belt on district properties.

Messer, during a statement Thursday night, described the Oct. 15 meeting between Champion and Williams as “emotional and loud” on the part of both men.

“Body postures were agitated for both men, and Bret was trying to be open and sit back more while actively listening,” Messer said. “Michael was trying to use various methods to calm down and recenter himself. He would put his hands on the table and take a deep breath.”

Messer said Williams stated that he felt as if he had been treated as “three-fifths” of a person and differently than other board members are treated. Messer said the conversation included discussion of safety concerns, including the reassignment of Doney. 

Champion’s complaint said Williams also voiced concern that district legal counsel provided guidance to board member Jeff Kinsella regarding a complaint filed against Kinsella and Wright last month by teacher Paul Cynar, which the board voted to dismiss. Williams took issue with district legal counsel not doing the same for him when a complaint was previously filed against Williams in August.

The complaint by Cynar was reviewed in open session, as were the pair of complaints against Williams on Thursday.

Thursday’s second complaint, which Wright read aloud, was signed by 10 district employees who expressed concerns about the Oct. 15 alleged confrontation. Employees reported hearing the exchange as well as Williams exiting Champion’s office loudly, and by slamming doors open.

The complaint said employees noticed Williams’ “work knife and large work shears on his person, in his tool belt, where everybody could see” and that his actions prompted employees to discuss whether to call 911. The complaint alleged that Williams violated school board policies pertaining to bullying and stated that employees believed Williams was “harassing Dr. Champion” during the exchange.

After reading the complaints, Wright, before asking for board comment, said she was “disturbed by constant claims” of safety issues in the district by Williams despite his bringing weapons on district property.

With Williams absent from Thursday’s meeting, district legal counsel advised the board to postpone board decision until Williams could review and respond to the complaints.

Board member Kendall Ferguson made a motion, “that the board postpone further discussion and deliberation of the complaints submitted against board member Williams by Superintend Champion and numerous district staff” until Williams could have “a chance to respond to those complaints at a future board meeting.”

Williams declined to immediately comment following the meeting but said he planned to release a statement.

Meeting audio is available on the school district website.