Blackwell CISD trustees censure one of their own after alleged unethical behavior

BLACKWELL — A Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District trustee was censured Monday following allegations of unethical behavior.

Brandye Glenn, the school board's secretary, was censured by her colleagues during a special meeting of the school board. The board cited a list 12 items, including bullying a teacher, in the resolution approved by a 6-0 vote.

Reached for comment Thursday, Glenn said she disputes each of the accusations made in the censure and provided evidence to the contrary during a board meeting in July.

"Any allegation I ever treated anyone unkindly is wrong. Absolutely incorrect," Glenn said. "I've never been unkind or a bully. This is much more a personal situation. I'm not from Blackwell and not a part of their club or their crowd."

Superintendent Abe Gott released a written statement from the district, saying: "On August 3, 2020, the Board of Trustees of Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District passed a Resolution of Censure of Trustee Brandye Glenn. All employees of Blackwell CISD are empowered to perform their duties in a professional environment, free from coercion or fear of retribution.

"By passing this Resolution, Blackwell CISD affirms its unwavering commitment to equality in its relentless pursuit of excellence in education for all students."

School board president Jason Jones reiterated the district's statement is also the school board's statement.

Glenn, who has served for three years, is up for reelection this fall. She filed this past winter to seek a new term.

The Nolan County district's election was postponed from May until November due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In its resolution, the school board alleged Glenn used her position as a trustee to both create hostile environments for teachers of her child and improperly discussed the employment contracts of a teacher and an unnamed administrator.

Gott said the incidents took place before a formal grievance was received May 6.

According to the board's resolution, Glenn also:

► repeatedly used or attempted to use her office to influence academic and disciplinary appraisals of her child;

► attempted to negatively affect a teacher's employment contract because she didn't approve of said academic and disciplinary appraisals of her child;

► publicly talked, as trustee, about matters that occurred in her child's classroom;

► attempted to force teachers to allow her child to telephone her during the school day;

► attempted to dictate seating assignments for her child;

► asserted her office as trustee during a parent-teacher conference;

► attempted to use her position as trustee to force a teacher to change the grade her child earned;

► improperly and repeatedly used her position outside of the school environment to attempt to unduly influence a teacher regarding academic and disciplinary appraisals of her child;

► repeatedly used BCISD's technology resources, including a parent-teacher messaging system, to attempt to influence teachers regarding her child's academic and disciplinary appraisals;

► misrepresented facts regarding official business of BCISD to teachers, administrators and other trustees.

The resolution also outline eight directives made to Glenn regarding the censure.

Among them, she's directed to carefully review the district's code of ethics; complete sensitivity training through the Region 14 Education Service Center; not act unlawfully or unethically while in her position as trustee; and use "ordinary courtesy and respect" when communicating with employees or trustees.

She also was directed to not retaliate against any employee or trustee and to cease all behaviors that were cited in the resolution.

However, Glenn said the teachers who filed the grievances against her also requested she be barred from campus and she not be allowed to vote on contractual matters.

Neither restriction, however, is in the censure resolution.

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