Crook County School Board to Discuss Superintendent’s Employment Amid Complaints

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Crook County School Board will hold a special meeting on Monday, January 6th, to discuss the employment status of Superintendent Melissa Skinner. This follows formal complaints filed against Skinner and ongoing tension in the district over her leadership.

The meeting is expected to address these complaints as well as a separate grievance lodged against a board member.

The controversy surrounding Skinner has been escalating for weeks, especially after a student protest and a packed board meeting where the community voiced their concerns.

A group aiming to remove Skinner from her position has garnered over 1,000 signatures, citing issues such as alleged nepotism in hiring practices, particularly the hiring of family members. The petition, which includes support from the teachers union and classified staff, was formally filed on December 17th.

The leader behind the movement, Gayden Pack, told NewsChannel 21 many people who signed the petition will be in attendance at Monday's meeting.

Longtime and well-respected school board member Scott Cooper urged the community to avoid taking in rumors as fact, and noted there are always two sides to every story.

"What is a fact is that Superintendent Skinner and the school board both want what is best for the district" Cooper told NewsChannel 21. Adding, "Post Monday night, I expect that district will have a solid plan for leadership moving forward."

NewsChannel 21 has reached out to Dr. Skinner and other Crook County School Board members for comment concerning Monday's meeting and are awaiting a response.

In December, community members contacted NewsChannel 21 informing our team that popular Athletic Director Rob Bonner would be transferred out of his role, a move the school board recommended against in a 4-0 vote.

NewsChannel 21 was on the scene as more than 100 Crook County students walked out of school, and took to the streets of Prineville in protest.

Later that night, families packed the Crook County School board meeting, the fire marshal was concerned about the building's capacity, so dozens of people were asked to go to an overflow room.

At the meeting, the Crook County School Board voted unanimously not to hear the complaint against Bonner. They also unanimously recommended Superintendent Skinner not transfer Bonner out of his role.

Following the meeting, a group of Crook County citizens filed a formal complaint against Superintendent Dr. Melissa Skinner, expressing concerns over her hiring practices, and management decisions within the school district.

The complaint, submitted in December, alleges unethical conduct, including the hiring of former School Board member Jessica Brumble as Transportation Manager, under questionable circumstances, potential nepotism involving the employment of Dr. Skinner’s family members, and the reassignment of Athletic Director, Rob Bonner, despite investigations finding no wrongdoing on his part.

Concerned Crook County parent Gayden Pack says Dr. Skinner had been making poor managerial decisions.

“Our concern really stemmed from the inappropriate hiring of former Board Member Brumble, who was hired into the Transportation Manager role while still a sitting board member, and so for us, that look like a quid pro quo.”

With regard to Transportation Manager Jessica Brumble, not being qualified to hold her position, sources familiar with this situation tell us, Brumble’s military history does reflect her qualifications to hold that job.

Pack, also brought up concerns over Board Member Cheyenne Edgerly.

“Board Member Edgerly, has openly announced to members of the community that she had a hit list of employees in our school district when she joined the board, so Edgerly and Skinner are known to be good friends in the community. That's well known. Our concern is that Dr. Skinner is taking direction from Board Member Edgerly.”

According to Pack, that direction included, Edgerly encouraging Superintendent Skinner to remove Athletic Director Rob Bonner, from his post, in part because Edgerly was not happy with Bonner over not giving her son enough accolades in football, years prior.

This is a developing story. Stay with NewsChannel 21 for urgent updates.