Libby School Board apologizes to Asa Wood principal
During the Libby School Board meeting on Tuesday, the board made a motion to extend an apology to Asa Wood Elementary School principal Marjorie O'Brien-Johnson.
The apology followed an accusation that O'Brien-Johnson's privacy rights were violated after board member Paula Darko-Hensler disclosed confidential information discussed during a closed executive session on Feb. 25.
“Yes we messed up and we would like to offer you our apologies and continue further training,” board member Lee Disney told O'Brien-Johnson during Tuesday's meeting.
A motion was made to extend an apology to O'Brien-Johnson on the matter.
“It wasn't an intentional thing, it was an ignorant thing,” according to Libby School Board Chairwoman Teri Kelly.
Darko-Hensler acknowledged discussing a matter that was disclosed during the closed session. The February session discussed the matter of O'Brien-Johnson's contract renewal.
O'Brien-Johnson read a letter she wrote to the board discussing the knowledge that Darko-Hensler had divulged the information “that violated my privacy.”
O'Brien-Johnson continued by saying she realized Darko-Hensler acted independently and didn't plan to seek legal action.
“The public deserves to know how public officials vote,” Darko-Hensler stated. “I never, ever, ever voted when my vote was not known. If it's not an official vote it was an implied vote. If voting was being discussed it should have been said that that was inappropriate.”
Board member Disney rebutted by saying, “We can vote in executive session, but it's a non-binding vote, it doesn't mean anything. We must vote with the public's right to know.”
“It shouldn't even be discussed,” Darko-Hensler answered.
“When you come out here and feel strongly about it, don't let anyone intimidate you, vote your conscience,” Disney said.
“It was discussed that this needed to be a unanimous vote,” Darko-Hensler said of the executive session decision.
“Yes, ma'am it was,” Disney answered.
O'Brien-Johnson did ask that Darko-Hensler recuse herself in any executive session discussing O'Brien-Johnson's employment and asked that if the board “wishes to discuss my employment in the future I wish to be present in accordance with Montana law.”
School board member Tracy Comeau stated that the board couldn't require Darko-Hensler to recuse herself on further executive sessions.
“We can't require a board member to not vote,” Kelly added.
Darko-Hensler made a disclosure of information, which as a board of trustee, she didn't have the permission to disclose under a censure resolution.
The disclosure was not supported or condoned by the board. The Libby School Board wouldn't support or defend Darko-Hensler in the event that the disclosure result in charges or legal action.