Chester school board to meet again to discuss employee complaint, consult with attorney

For the second time this week, the Chester County school board plans to hold a closed-door meeting to talk to attorneys about at least one employee grievance.

School officials said Wednesday the board will meet in a specially called session at 6 p.m. Thursday. The meeting’s agenda includes an executive session to discuss an “employment grievance and (a) contractual matter” with attorneys.

At a meeting on Monday, the seven-member school board voted – with three trustees opposed – to gather additional information about the reported grievance. They’ve not said what the complaint is about, who filed it, or who the complaint is against.

So far this month, the board has spent a total of nearly nine hours in three private meetings – largely discussing employee-related matters, according to the limited amount of information disclosed publicly by the district.

Some parents have complained recently about the private meetings, including several of the nearly 100 people who packed the school board meeting room Monday. Parents have told The Herald their questions and concerns largely revolve around a switch the district made earlier this year to replace Chester County sheriff’s deputies with private security officers on school grounds.

The Herald also has posed several questions – so far still unanswered – about Superintendent Agnes Slayman’s recent “personal leave” earlier this month, and the newspaper has inquired about an ongoing state Department of Education investigation into alleged grade tampering within the school district.

State law allows public bodies, such as school boards, to hold closed-door meetings to discuss some issues, including employee grievance hearings. Any votes, however, must be made in open session.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Chester school board to meet again to discuss employee complaint, consult with attorney."