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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Board of Education issued an apology Wednesday to "individuals who were disparaged or embarrassed" in texts and emails between and among board members obtained through a public records request by a woman whose five children attend Salt Lake schools.
"We are deeply sorry for breaking your trust and for causing hurt to constituents about whom we care deeply," the letter states.
It references recent press coverage about some board members "behaving in a manner not in keeping with the high standards of the office to which you have elected us."
"To put it simply: you and our students deserve better. This is not who we want to be as a board; it does not represent the behavior we want to model for our community, and especially for our students," the letter reads.
Raina Williams, who has children in the district's elementary, middle and high schools, said she sought the records under the state Government Records Access and Management Act to gain a greater understanding of how the school board adopted a fully online mode of instruction when its public discussions centered on a hybrid model.
Some of the communications disparaged parents and employees and at least one used vulgar language.
The letter says the board will undergo training on Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act and participate in "a facilitated, professional development discussion on our ethical and professional responsibilities, including the need for appropriate and transparent communications."
The letter says "this moment provides us with an opportunity to reflect, to commit to do better, and to focus on real change and the promising future of the Salt Lake City School District. We are committed to working together to rebuild the reputation of the board and to restoring your trust, not only in our leadership, but also in this amazing district. We are determined to get this right."
The letter was signed by Salt Lake School Board President Melissa Ford, Vice President Nate Salazar and board members Michelle Tuitupou, Katherine Kennedy and Samuel Hanson.
"We just decided that we needed to respond to the hurt feelings, breach of trust, the stories in the press. We needed to respond to our community about that, what they were seeing, and we needed to acknowledge that we could do better," said Ford.
As the board pondered what to do, "there's a recognition that you have to start somewhere. and this is a start," she said.
To put it simply: you and our students deserve better.
–Salt Lake City Board of Education
"That's what this is. Those outlined steps in the letter are to start regaining trust, they aren't the end. We'll have a discussion with a mediator to go through our communication practices, our board policy that includes ethics, and set some goals and accountability measures, how are we going to hold ourselves accountable to this so that we know going forward we're doing better in our community, because this will be an open meeting conversation," Ford said.
Ford said she proposed issuing an apology to each board member and she and four others signed it. Board member Kristi Swett supports the action but opted not to sign the letter, Ford said.
Board member Mike Nemelka, who recently filed a complaint against three other board members alleging "unlawful behavior, discrimination and violation of Utah's Open and Public Meeting laws," didn't sign the letter.
"I have nothing to apologize for," he said. Some of the emails indicate Nemelka was excluded from communications sent to all other board members.
Asked if he'd withdraw the complaint he filed with the school board's attorney following the public apology, Nemelka said he intends to follow through with the complaint against board members Kennedy, Hanson and Salazar. Nemelka said he expects to hear from the board's attorney within a matter of days regarding who will be assigned as investigator.
"I still want them to resign. That's the most effective thing I can think of to solve the problems of the board," he said.
Williams said she felt that Ford "was doing her best and she wanted to get a letter out there but I don't think it's fixing the deep dysfunction in our district."
The board already receives annual training on Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act and the Government Records Access and Management Act, but members chose not to comply, Williams said.
"I feel like this should not be taking away time from you guys trying to get our kids educated, which they're not doing," Williams said.
Instead of a blanket apology, board members should address people who they disparaged with personal apologies, she said.
"To feel like there are a lot of parents that have spoken up and to know that they feel like we're aliens or live on another planet or we're just idiots if we don't agree with them, that's even more discouraging to know, like we're not even respected for our opposing views, even though we're the ones that are parenting these kids," she said.
The letter goes on to say that the board recommits itself to serving the school district with dignity and respect and thanks community members for their patience and understanding.
"We value your input and request that you continue to reach out to us as we move forward in a deliberate, transparent and trustworthy manner. We value your input. We cannot do our jobs well without your feedback, even — actually, especially — when it is different from our own opinions. Only together and representing all voices can we make decisions in the best interest of all our students," the letter states.
