The Medford School District board meeting set for Thursday night will bring a packed agenda covering issues that have been in the community spotlight.

Agenda items include discussion of the recently collapsed North Medford High School gymnasium, an expected apology from board member Jeff Kinsella, who muttered a profanity at a district parent in a public meeting, and two new complaints filed by embattled board member Michael Williams. There also will be discussions on food services and budget amendments.

The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at Oakdale Middle School, 815 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford.

Gymnasium

The gymnasium has been a hot topic as school district officials have grappled with a series of events that unfolded two weeks ago after a beam reportedly cracked during a Feb. 7 athletics practice.

The gymnasium was closed and fenced off.

Four days later, last Tuesday morning, the beams began to fail and within a few hours, the gym roof completely collapsed.

The gymnasium received seismic retrofitting last summer as part of a more than $3 million project.

District spokesperson Natalie Hurd told the Rogue Valley Times on Tuesday that the district would meet with demolition providers this week and determine “a clearer timeline for the demolition process.”

Board member apology

The agenda item marked “Complaints Against Board Member / Board Member Apology,” was initially scheduled for a board work session, but the recent snowstorm resulted in cancelation of the meeting.

The agenda indicates that the board member in question, Jeff Kinsella, “requested time on the agenda to offer an apology regarding inappropriate language during citizen comments at the January 23rd board meeting.”

Following his request, per the agenda, the board will discuss and determine a course of action for dealing with two related complaints, filed by the parent to whom the remarks were directed, Nathaniel Swan, and his wife.

The complaints assert violation of School Board Policy KL at a Jan. 23 board meeting during which Kinsella could be heard muttering into his microphone, while Swan spoke, “Go **** yourself.”

During remarks made during the citizen comment portion of the meeting, school board Chair Cynthia Wright told Swan not to directly name district staff members, which he continued to do. Kinsella interjected, ordering staff to “cut his mic (microphone),” before uttering the expletive toward Swan. The remark was recorded on the livestream of the meeting and was heard by members of the audience.

Two new complaints

Williams filed complaints against district Superintendent Bret Champion and Wright on Feb. 16, according to copies obtained by the Rogue Valley Times. He said the new complaints are an attempt to document the alleged discrepancies in how he has been treated compared to other board members and a final push to urge the district to lift what he considers unfair restrictions against his activities as a board member.

Williams said he has been singled out and treated differently since last year, when he spoke out about the reassignment of School Resource Officer Josh Doney. Most recently, Williams was twice censured by the board for complaints filed by school Safety and Security Director Ron Havniear, district office staff and Champion.

Over the past year, Williams’ complaint alleges, Wright threatened retaliation and attempted to pressure Williams to resign; failed to treat Williams with dignity and respect by supporting public messaging that questioned his credibility; collaborated with the superintendent to undermine Williams “rather than exercising independent judgment”; and actively participated in the creation of complaints against me, violating the expectation that the Board functions as an independent oversight body.

In the complaint against Champion, Williams alleges that the superintendent violated myriad “leadership and district culture” policies including that Champion failed to promote a climate of tolerance and civility; failed to establish proper board-superintendent relationships; failed to demonstrate mediation and conflict resolution skills; and participated in retaliation and harassment and abuse of authority.

Williams said he filed the two new complaints, submitted under district policy KL, pertaining to public complaints, after district legal counsel denied his attorney’s demand to lift the ongoing restrictions.

He said the complaints could be remedied, or dropped, by removal of restrictions placed on his activities as a board member.

If sanctions are not lifted, Williams has requested a formal third-party investigation into actions of both Wright and Champion; a board review of restrictions placed on Williams; a commitment from the board to “protect my ability to perform my duties without unjustified restrictions or intimidation”; and an “independent review of how district policies are being applied and whether they are being selectively enforced against certain Board members.”

Hurd confirmed receipt of Williams’ complaints but said the district would reserve comment until board members had been given a chance to review the full complaints and to address the complaints according to district policy.

Additionally, however, the district offered a statement late Wednesday night after this story was published. It said, “The majority of Williams’ complaints are nothing new. Most allegations have already been dismissed or found unsubstantiated through an independent investigation or via the complaint process in Board Policy KL.

“In fact, an independent third party investigation determined Williams himself violated multiple board policies, including bullying, harassment and abuse of his role as a board member,” the statement read. “It’s concerning that Michael chose to share these complaints with the media before the board had any opportunity to see or address them.”

Williams filed an additional complaint last week, against district legal counsel Thad Pauck, whom Williams alleges selectively provided counsel to specific board members. Pauck confirmed receipt of the complaint but said the Oregon State Bar found “no grounds sufficient to support a reasonable belief that any lawyer misconduct occurred and that they will not be taking any further action.”

Williams said on Wednesday that he has appealed the decision by the state Bar.

Thursday’s meeting agenda is available online.

This story has been updated with comment from the Medford School District regarding the complaints filed Feb. 16 by board member Michael Williams.