Williams says board is missing an opportunity to commit to ‘inclusion and collaboration’; discussion also raised on revoking student transfers; budget approval postponed

Medford School Board member Michael Williams told board members Thursday that rushing to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of board member Michelle Atkinson was a “missed opportunity” to commit to “inclusion and collaboration” with newly elected board members.

Three new board members were elected Tuesday; Erik Johnsen, Angela Zbikowski and Sandra Lanier McHenry. 

Thursday’s meeting brought discussion of a fourth available seat, vacated by the May 5 resignation of Atkinson, and a revision to the schedule on which the board plans to fill the seat.

Board members decided during a May 8 work session to accept applications for the position through May 22, conduct interviews in late May and fill the seat by appointment June 5. 

With graduation ceremonies set for next week, board members decided Thursday to conduct interviews and make an appointment at the same June 5 meeting.

Eight applications were received by Thursday’s posted deadline: Ilex Brandenberger, Jared Corrigall, Corbi Lima, Mike Miles, Rhonda Nowak, Cynda Rickert, Rich Rosenthal and Sunny Spicer.

Board members discussed utilizing a ranking system in which each board selects their “top 3,” assigning a point system to each. 

Williams proposed waiting to select a candidate until new board members are sworn in on July 1, noting previously aired concerns by the community and incoming candidates.

Earlier in the meeting, during public comment, local pastor Russ Kautz pointed to candidate concerns during a candidate forum, during which the vacancy was discussed. Kautz, who urged outgoing board members to recuse themselves from voting on the appointment, said there “appears to be no good reason to rush this process.”

During discussion of the vacancy on Thursday, Williams said board members had an opportunity to consider community input and to “look at our new board members and say we want to include you.”

Williams made a motion for the postponement of the appointment. Wright asked if any board members would second Williams’ motion; none did. Wright told Williams, “There doesn’t appear to be a second, probably because we already made that decision … so we’re going to move on.”

A vote was taken resulting in approval from all but Wiliams, who abstained. Atkinson was absent from the second half of the meeting. Following the meeting, Williams said the selection for the vacant seat will have a significant impact on future board dynamics.

“In the spirit of being inclusive, collaborative and considerate of the board, I made a motion to table the appointment only — not the process — so that the new board would have a say in who they would work with for the next two years,” he told the Rogue Valley Times.

*Rushing this appointment is not only atypical, it is inappropriate. Just because you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should. … They chose to ignore a plea for reason and humility.”

Transfer students

In addition to Kautz’s comments during public comment, district employee Jodi Smith appealed to the board to reconsider revoking transfers of Washington Elementary School students, as reported by the Times. More than four dozen students were informed in recent months that all transfer students at the school would be enrolled at their home schools following the current school year.

Smith appeared with a student, whom she said had learned to read despite living in a car and hotels for a year, and read a letter from a parent of another Washington student who she said would be impacted by losing transfer status.

Budget approval postponed

Also on Thursday’s agenda, approval of the 2025-2026 district budget approval was postponed.

Brad Earl, assistant superintendent of operations for the Medford School District, said state economists were forecasting that schools could end up with fewer dollars than anticipated due to the state facing a potential $750 million budget shortfall.

Earl told board members that district officials hoped to “gather more information on potential funding before budget adoption.” Under state law, board members must review and approve the proposed budget by June 30.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or buffy.pollock@rv-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.