School board votes to reject recommendation

A special Ekalaka Public Schools Unified Board of Trustees meeting was held on Monday night. The meeting took place inside the CCHS Tuggle Room in order to accommodate seating for the large number of guests in attendance. The meeting consisted of a teacher termination hearing concerning the superintendent's recommendation to terminate the employment of tenured Ag teacher Seth Whitney. Whitney has been teaching at CCHS since 2012.

Superintendent Charles Cook recommended that Whitney's contract be terminated due to a "pattern of poor judgment that has hurt students and placed the school in a highly liable position."

Cook went on to cite multiple incidents backing his recommendation, ranging from one on October 3, 2016 to the most recent incident on July 26, 2023.

Most of the hearing though, was focused on the July 26th incident when, according to Cook, Whitney allowed FFA members to drive themselves to an event at Medicine Rocks State Park. Upon leaving the event, four of the members were involved in a one-vehicle accident.

Cook interviewed Whitney about the incident on July 31. On August 21, Whitney received a letter from Cook recommending his termination.

In addition to multiple other witnesses who provided testimony at the hearing, Whitney himself spoke about the incident on July 26th. After completing his recount of the events from July 26th, Whitney stated: "I wish to God I could take it back, but I can't."

Principal Brian Purnell also spoke as a witness. In Purnell's testimony he stated that he believed FFA to be an intra-curricular activity, not an extra-curricular activity. This distinction, according to Purnell, is important because it means that Whitney's FFA contract and his teaching contract are "intertwined with each other."

After hearing testimony from both sides, board member Helen King moved to accept the superintendent's recommendation to terminate. The motion did not receive a second and died on the floor. Board member Thebea Thomas then motioned to reject the superintendent's recommendation. Board Chair Michael Ashbrook seconded the motion.

Once the motion to reject was made and seconded, Chair Ashbrook opened the meeting to public comment. Several members of the public spoke, and all who spoke were in favor of keeping Mr. Whitney as a teacher at CCHS. Members of the public making comment included parents, students, FFA members, and even other Ag teachers from neighboring communities.

In addition, some who spoke also mentioned the general need for Ag classes at Ekalaka Public Schools.

"You shut down Ag classes, but Ag keeps the lights on at this school," said local producer Ty O'Connor. "We should not terminate this teacher."

After hearing public comment, the board voted on the motion to reject the recommendation. All of the board members in attendance voted in favor except for Helen King who voted against the motion. King noted the liability placed upon the school and well-being of the students as reasons for her vote.

The only item on Monday's agenda was to accept or reject the superintendent's recommendation. No other action was taken.