Columbus School Board Investigates Task Force’s Released Memo

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus City School Board has released the results of its investigation into a controversial leaked building task force memo, saying one council member was solely responsible for drafting it.

At a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, board member Brandon Simmons left the meeting before it was over.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., the district sent a statement and a copy of the investigation’s findings. The district said the investigation, conducted by the committee’s legal counsel, Scott Scriven LLP, found that Simmons was the only person who wrote the memo titled “Taking Control of the Task Force Narrative.”

The leaked six-page task force memo includes proposals such as separating the teachers union from the rest of the staff, switching meeting locations between the two at the last minute, and labeling school board opponents as “dangerous.” All of this is said to be an attempt to control coverage of the task force’s proposals. It also suggested rewarding “good” media with preferred seating or interviews depending on whether or not they reported on “false statements” made by the union.

For his part, Simmons sent a statement before the investigation’s findings were released reiterating his claim that other board members were involved in drafting the memo.

According to the district’s investigation, Simmons was the person who had access to the document and it was his ideas.

“He told board members and district staff at the May 10 meeting that he was the sole author and that they were ‘his ideas,'” the investigation said.

“Today, my colleagues made the regrettable decision to publish a report based on false information,” Simmons wrote in his statement. “The reality of this situation remains: My colleagues were actively involved in the development and execution of the document.”

Simmons voted for his own censure at a board meeting last week, acknowledged his role in the controversy and urged other board members to do the same. He was also relieved of his duties on board committees.

“I believe the release of this report is another important step as the board seeks to restore the trust of our labor partners, staff, parents, students and community,” board President Christina Vera wrote in a district statement.

Simmons accused the panel of violating Ohio’s freedom of information laws.

“In addition, I am very concerned that the decision the board made today violates Ohio’s open meeting law,” he wrote in his statement. “My colleagues frequently and routinely abuse the board meeting mechanism to make decisions in camera before returning to the public table of the board.”

Simmons said he would not comment publicly on the matter until he received instructions from his lawyer.

The memo in question and the district’s investigation results can be found below.