State Board of Examiners suspends school inspector in Kentucky for six months

Robertson County Superintendent Sanford Holbrook has been suspended for six months by the state teacher certification board.

An agreed order of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board was approved during the EPSB Board meeting on December 11. Minutes of that meeting were approved and posted during the February 12 meeting.

The order states that the suspension will begin on June 1, during which time Holbrook will be unable to serve as superintendent. EPSB documents did not specify what the allegations were.

“Superintendent Holbrook’s suspension was based on a complaint filed with the EPSB and not on any action by the local school board,” said Joe Ragusa, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Education.

Ragusa did not immediately comment on the reasons for Holbrook’s suspension, and Kentucky Department of Education officials said late Tuesday afternoon they had no comment.

Before being reinstated, Holbrook must provide the board with written proof of participation in a continuing education course on educational ethics and state school law.

The order states that the board will seek additional sanctions if any further disciplinary action is taken against him by any school district over the next 10 years.

“We have no comment at this time,” Holbrook’s attorney Regina Jackson said Tuesday.

Robertson School Board Chairman John Burns did not immediately return a call Tuesday. The school board’s attorney, Claire Estill, said she had no comment.

The Ledger Independent reported in 2019 that Holbrook was originally hired as superintendent in 2015. Robertson County Schools is one of the smallest school districts in the state, with about 450 students.

Holbrook also serves on the Board of Trustees of Morehead State University.

There was no initial comment from the university on Tuesday.

According to the MSU website, Holbrook’s term ends this year.