LR5 board denies wrongdoing, but questions still unanswered after Melton resignation

The school board for Lexington-Richland 5 has denied it acted wrongly in the way it accepted the resignation of the district’s outgoing superintendent. But in the wake of the abrupt departure of Christina Melton, board members have continued to dodge public questions concerning her resignation and next steps.

Thursday, the school board released an unsigned statement saying the board did not violate the S.C. Freedom of Information Act in privately negotiating a settlement that grants a year’s salary, $226,368, to Melton. The statement argued the settlement is a private, contractual negotiation and is protected by attorney-client privilege. The settlement will not become binding until June 22, the statement said.

The State reported Wednesday on the settlement agreement reached behind closed doors between Melton and the school board. That agreement was not voted on in public at Monday’s school board meeting, at which Melton publicly resigned.

Last year, a judge invalidated a similar payout to former Richland County Administrator Gerald Seals, ruling in part that Richland County Council had decided to accept the $1 million settlement behind closed doors without a public vote or discussion.

The school board’s statement also chided the way Melton’s resignation was announced, but it didn’t specify the target of the criticism.

“It is disappointing to the board that this news was shared in this careless way and without consideration of the District’s staff and students as we near the end of the 2020-21 school year and prepare to celebrate our graduates and end-of-year achievements,” the statement said. “The public display of contempt and disdain for the situation stripped Dr. Melton of the ability to address her staff, students, and the community about her plans and completely undermined her authority to share her future in the manner that she deserved during this transitional period for our district.”

Melton and the board announced her resignation at the end of Monday night’s meeting, after board member Ed White publicly resigned from the board citing his disagreement with the settlement, which had not previously been mentioned. The board later voted to go into an unscheduled, closed-door executive session on “a contractual matter” before reconvening in public to announce Melton’s resignation.

The board’s statement was the first time the district provided an in-depth response to concerns regarding Melton’s abrupt resignation. However, neither the two-page statement nor individual board members have answered key questions, such as why Melton resigned and who will oversee the district after Melton’s last day on June 30.

None of the six elected officials who remain on the board have commented to The State when asked about Melton’s departure, who would serve as interim superintendent, why she resigned, nor how or when the district would begin the search for a new superintendent.

The board has since announced a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss naming an interim superintendent.

Board members also declined to comment on an accusation that some members of the board pushed Melton to resign, levied by White.

White alleged that three board members had created a toxic environment for Melton and pushed to oust her behind the scenes.

In refusing to speak publicly, the remaining board members have cited an internal policy — which they set for themselves — that says only the board chairperson should speak to the media. Most local elected bodies do not impose restrictions on how their members may communicate with the public.

When asked for comment on multiple occasions, board members have referred questions to board chair Jan Hammond, citing their internal policy. Hammond has not returned multiple requests for comment.

One board member, Catherine Huddle, said she wants to speak publicly on the issue, but board policy prevents her from doing so.

“I am between a rock and a hard place,” Huddle told The State. “I would love to make a statement, but I won’t violate board policy.”

Board policy allows the board chair to designate another board member on her behalf. While board member Ken Loveless spoke for the board during the Monday meeting, neither he nor other board members have answered follow-up questions this week.

Melton herself was out of the office the day after her announcement and has made sporadic appearances since then, including a reception for district retirees on Wednesday, and she’s expected to appear at graduation events this weekend.

Even Irmo Mayor Barry Walker told The State he reached out to Hammond on Tuesday but has not yet received a response.

But neither Melton herself nor her district office is commenting on the situation either in public or internally, said district spokeswoman Laura McElveen.

“She’s not speaking on camera, or with staff,” McElveen said. “That (released statement) is all that’s been said and all that will be said.”

As the board has refused to comment, new information has been trickling in.

On Wednesday, The State obtained a copy of the apparent severance agreement between the school district and Melton. The agreement, which was not mentioned publicly during the Monday board meeting, awards Melton a year’s salary, $226,368, in addition to her regular salary and benefits for agreeing to resign.

That agreement also includes a clause prohibiting both Melton and the board from publicly disparaging each other at the risk of a $20,000 penalty. It also prohibits them commenting on the agreement itself.

“If either party, including any individual trustee, is asked about this agreement and/or its terms, the party shall respond that the Agreement speaks for itself and that she/he has no further comment,” it reads.

Like many school districts, Lexington-Richland 5 faced protests from students, parents and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some calling for a faster return to in-person classes and others pushing to continue virtual instruction until case numbers declined.

Up until Melton’s resignation announcement, the board appeared to be supporting her, issuing a warm statement after Melton was named Superintendent of The Year in May. The board’s statement praised Melton’s “professionalism and grace” and her “ability to inspire those around her,” The State reported previously.

Melton, whose contract was to last until 2023, has been at the district in various roles for a decade, racking up awards along the way. In 2012, while serving as an elementary school principal, she was named the best in the state, according to her district bio page. In 2016, Melton was awarded “District Level Administrator of the Year,” by a statewide group of educators. She became so prominent, S.C. ETV created a documentary of her time as superintendent to serve as a case study for other districts, according to her online bio.

This story was originally published June 17, 2021 at 3:36 PM.