The return of Romulus Superintendent of Schools Dr. Benjamin Edmondson continues to foment turmoil among the divided members of the board of education.
The issue has become so contentious that a regular meeting of the board members Nov. 22 was suspended after less than 15 minutes when the trustees could not agree on accepting the agenda for the evening proceedings. A motion by Trustee Ursula Wester to add the reinstatement of Edmondson and the 10-day notice of termination to interim Superintendent Sean McNatt to the agenda failed on a 3-3 vote with Trustee Nichole German absent from the meeting.
Wester made the same motion before the evening proceedings began and it failed by the same 3-3 vote.
In opening the meeting, Board President Debi Pyles cautioned the audience that security was present and that while "nobody needs to be scared" the board needed to conduct business. She warned the audience that speaking out loudly or shouting during the meeting would result in a warning and if repeated, removal from the meeting. During a meeting last month, one resident was removed as comments became loud and intensely critical of the board members.
When the 3-3 vote to accept the agenda failed, Pyles attempted to contact school board legal counsel and after several attempts was informed that the meeting would have to be adjourned if the agenda was not accepted by a majority vote of the board members.
Meetings of the board have been contentious since the board placed Edmondson on paid leave Sept. 27, after announcing a financial audit to be performed by attorneys from the Clark Hill law firm. Parents, teachers, three board members and union representatives have loudly protested the action and the procedures utilized by Pyles and other board members in the action. Meeting audience members have publicly criticized the board members and questioned their motives in placing Edmondson on leave.
According to a board statement, the audit was prompted by the failure of Edmondson to address problems in the district business and financial operations.
An interim report from Clark Hill attorneys indicated a "possible violation of competitive bidding laws for supplies, materials, equipment and or for the addition renovation or repair to district buildings." The report claims that Edmondson purchased "groups of items" in excess of the $25,288 limit of his sole authority without taking the purchase to the board members.
Parents have been highly critical of the contract paying McNatt $734 per day as interim superintendent, noting it is more than Edmondson is paid.
