LR5 board member threatened ex-superintendent with censure for mask rule, emails show

A Lexington-Richland 5 school board member threatened Superintendent Christina Melton with censure for “undermining” the school board by requiring students to wear masks in school, according to documents obtained by The State.

On May 6, 2021, the district administration followed legal advice and reversed a school board’s decision that had repealed the district’s mask mandate. Hours later, board member Nikki Gardner blasted Melton for the policy reversal.

“I cannot believe that you have directly gone against the will of the board,” Gardner said in an email to Melton. “I will be asking in our Exec Session what repercussions and steps we must take to censure you. It maybe [sic] in general session if you continue to undermine the will of the board.”

“You have no authority to enforce masking without a policy,” Gardner said in the email. “This will cause extreme events on Monday and I will lay it at your feet.”

The district’s school board meetings are typically on Mondays.

In response, Melton copied district attorney Andrea White and other board members, saying her decision to send an announcement to parents, employees and the board was approved by board chairwoman Jan Hammond. Melton’s response email said she believed board member Ken Loveless was being kept in the loop about the announcement, which Loveless denied in a follow-up email.

“I can tell you that this is absolutely false. I was not aware of any of this until after it was published,” Loveless said. “Rest assured I am not pleased about this and plan to make my displeasure known. I also plan to expose anyone who has falsely represented facts.”

The administration had decided to repeal the board’s decision after 100 school employees threatened to sue, school district attorney Andrea White said. At the board’s May 10 meeting, White told board members that under state law, the district’s legal immunity is based on it following applicable guidelines, The State previously reported.

The board voted May 10 to scale back its mask policy by “strongly” encouraging students to wear masks but not requiring them.

The release of the emails follows several weeks of turmoil at a district that has several top-ranked high schools. The public chaos began when Melton, who was named this year’s state superintendent of the year, and board member Ed White resigned abruptly at a June 14 school board meeting. White later issued a statement saying several board members had created an abusive and toxic work environment that pushed out Melton.

This story was originally published June 30, 2021 at 9:52 AM.