A prior edition of this story was initially published 2/24/22 and can be viewed here.
by Garrick & Carrie Moritz
The Garretson School Board held a special meeting on Feb. 23, 2022. After five hours of deliberation, the Board terminated the contract of Principal Chris Long.
They called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. The crowd was much larger than the regular meeting held on February 14, and was comprised of students and parents, many sporting T-shirts supporting Chris Long.
Aside from the Gazette, reporters representing both the Argus Leader and South Dakota News Watch were present. Since the meeting, both KELOLAND News and Dakota News Now have also had stories on this issue.
“We’re going to start these proceedings with a few agenda items, but most of this meeting will be held in executive session for the purposes of an employee hearing,” said Board President Shannon Nordstrom. “This might take an hour, four hours or even longer, and there may or may not be an outcome tonight as we may want a decision based on clear minds. Any final decision on this issue will be voted on in open session, though the deliberations must take place in closed session.”
The board appointed Rodney Freeman, Attorney, as the Hearing Officer and legal counsel to the Board for the purposes of holding an Employee Hearing.
Present were two other attorneys, David Kroon, who was representing Chris Long, and Sam Kerr, who is the appointed attorney for the Garretson School District. Kerr and Garretson Supt. Guy Johnson sat in one set of desks facing Freeman and the School Board, and Kroon and Long sat in another set of desks facing the board. The setup was very reminiscent of courtroom prosecution and defense.
The Garretson School Board entered executive session at 6:03 p.m.
During the proceedings there was quite a bit of coming and going of all parties except school board members. Supt. Johnson and Kerr, as well as Long and Kroon, would each enter the administration wing to deliberate at several points during the proceedings, and the board also notably called witnesses, such as GHS Basketball Coach and assistant Football Coach Tad Heitkamp.
Neither Supt. Johnson, Long, or their attorneys issued any public statements.
Just after 11:00 p.m., Mr. Freeman announced to those still in attendance that the board was back in open session.
The Board was declared out of executive session at 11:19 p.m.
“We had a lot of deliberation,” said Board President Shannon Nordstrom. “This was not easy at all. I’m going to read the motion that we have. Then someone will take it from there. The motion is to terminate the contract of Chris Long effective immediately, based on his clear failure to follow, and violations of, the district’s policy and procedures, and to direct the Hearing Officer to present a Finding of Facts in Conclusions of Law, and decision to be approved and adopted by the board of education. I will bring that motion forward.”
“I will second that motion,” said Board member Kari Flanagan.
“Is there further discussion?” asked Nordstrom.
There was silence.
“All those in favor say aye.”
The vote was unanimous.
“Motion carries,” said Nordstrom.
Board member Ryan Longhenry made the motion to adjourn and Flanagan seconded, ending five hours of deliberations.
Many members of the public in attendance were emotional after this vote, with family members in tears. Several allegations, some of which were the result of a lack of information, were made by many members of the public on social media.
While rumors have been rampant that the suspension and ultimate termination was the result of not reporting an incident at a Baltic track meet last May in which three students assaulted another student, this connection has not been confirmed in any way by a public offical.
The next day, School Board President Shannon Nordstrom issued this statement to the Gazette and the letter was also sent out via the school’s text message to parents and patrons of the district. It read:
The Garretson School Board met Wednesday night February 23rd for an employee hearing that had been scheduled. This hearing was at the request of the employee after receiving a recommendation for termination of contract for not following and violating district policies. While it is unfortunate the timelines stretched out, it was important that as a board we kept confidentiality for the employee and students and understood the parties involved were working through processes. These processes once started were out of the districts control until completed. As a board, we worked to understand the impact of the situation on all parties involved, and the temperature and feelings of many in the district.
At Wednesday night’s hearing, we were presented exhibits, heard testimony, and asked questions. This was done as part of the judicial capacity of our positions on the school board. In the end the board voted unanimously to terminate Mr. Longs contract.
Mr. Long has served our district for 13 years and has been part of a team involved in many very good things that are happening at our district. The collective team that makes up the Garretson School District can be proud of many accomplishments at the Home of the Blue Dragons. Unfortunately, the hearing led the board to the conclusion that this decision was necessary. We do understand the bond that a principal and football coach forms with many and this is surely hard to understand for some.
As a board, our hope is that the Garretson community can put trust in our decision and the work we will have to do with our administrative team, staff, and students to begin the healing process. Many people, some are front and center, and some that are behind the scenes have been uniquely impacted by process that has played out. We would also issue a challenge to take a step back, reflect, think through your own actions, and realize that we are not helping the problem heal by attacking others and spreading misinformation.
Our district will be starting the process of hiring a new principal and we will work step by step to review what we have learned, use it as part of our tools, and work towards the future. The Garretson School district is a great place, we believe in the people in our district and their vision to follow our motto of “Growing our Future, Every Child, Every Day” There are great things happening today, but it is easy for them to be overshadowed when situations like this unfold. We thank every person that is part of this district for the role they play to make good things happen and look forward with hope and optimism for the future, even with the challenge of today.
For the Board
President- Shannon Nordstrom
Vice President – Kari Flanagan
Rachel Hanisch
Jodi Linneweber
Ryan Longhenry
There are still unanswered questions about this issue, namely the reason why the school board voted the way they did to terminate Mr. Long’s contract or what the substance of the hearing itself involved, i.e., what policies and practices Mr. Long apparently violated for the board to take the action they did. The Board will not speak publicly on this matter, but if they submit a "Finding of Facts in Conclusions of Law" to the State Board of Education, which would be part of the legal process of revoking Mr. Long’s teaching certificate either on a temporary or permanent basis, that would be a matter of public record.
Mr. Long is not currently on the State’s Educator Disciplinary Action list at https://doe.sd.gov/professionalpractices/EDA.aspx, though with the board’s resolution, it’s clear that this action is in process with the State authorities.
Just before press time this week, the Gazette received a legal notice that the Garretson School Board would not be hosting a school board election this year. Tana Clark and Jodi Gloe both filed petitions of election for the school board. Board President Shannon Nordstrom and board member Ryan Longhenry also filed for re-election.
These were the only petitions received by the school’s business manager by the filing date. This means that current board members Rachel Hanisch and Jodi Linneweber decided not to apply for re-election to the school board. Gloe is currently a member of the Garretson City Council but has not filed for re-election for that body. Clark is a former school board member who championed Mr. Long’s cause, and, as we reported, collected a petition of district patrons on his behalf to present to the school board.
           The Gazette will report more as information develops.
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