From Deseret News archives:
Fired principal sues charter school
Board violated law on open meetings, the lawsuit says
Kennan T. Beckstrand of Fruit Heights is seeking a reversal of the decision to terminate him, his Salt Lake attorney, Scott Crook, said.
He also seeks salary compensation and legal fees, according to documents filed March 6 in 4th District Court.
Contacted Monday by the Deseret Morning News, Sharon Moss, chairwoman of the school's board, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Moss referred questions to the board's attorney, Evan Schmutz, who said Monday he had not been served with court papers and could not comment.
Charter schools receive state and federal funding but are independent of local school districts. They often are founded and governed by parents.
The Noah Webster Academy, 205 E. 400 South, opened in the fall, and according to the lawsuit, Beckstrand lost his job after a Dec. 7 regularly scheduled school board meeting.
Board members closed the meeting to discuss the potential purchase of property, the suit states. Closing the meetings under such circumstances can be legal under the state's Open and Public Meetings Act.
The law requires that public-meeting agendas state all reasons for holding a closed meeting and the school board violated the act by not stating on the agenda that the board planned to discuss personnel matters, the suit states.
The school board did not keep minutes or record the closed meeting a violation of the law because closed meetings must be recorded "except in limited circumstances not relevant here," the suit states.
The board did not vote to terminate Beckstrand in an open meeting, the suit states, which also is a violation of the law because public bodies must approve contracts and appointments in open meetings.
Prior to losing his job, Beckstrand was disciplined by the school board in October for insubordination, the suit states.
Beckstrand had taken to the school board complaints from faculty and staff about the behavior of Moss, who in addition to chairing the school's board, worked as an assistant principal.
(After the October board meeting, the Utah State Charter School Board told Moss she could not have both positions, the suit states, and she left the assistant principal position.)
Beckstrand's suit alleges portions of the October board meeting were also in violation of the law.
The agenda did not state that the board was to discuss a personnel matter during the closed meeting, the suit states.
The board did not record or keep minutes of the closed meeting, the suit states.
And the board did not vote to discipline Beckstrand in an open meeting, the suit states.
Crook said he will soon file another complaint against the Noah Webster Academy board for making defamatory accusations against his client, but had to file this complaint first because of the statute of limitations requirement.
Beckstrand, he said, is looking for another job.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com
Comments
- No fractures on Emery's foot 10:07 a.m.
- Reports: Modest but steady growth 10:02 a.m.
- Stocks hold gains after econ reports 9:59 a.m.
- Ontario Mormons' nativity scenes 9:41 a.m.
- Rabbis join NJ gay marriage debate 9:03 a.m.
- Afghan buildup on faster timetable 9:01 a.m.
- Salahi denies crashing W.H. party 8:58 a.m.
- Suspect in police slayings killed 8:55 a.m.
- Arrests made in Roy slayings 8:35 a.m.
- Bowden meeting with school officials 8:01 a.m.
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
900 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
386 - Max Hall issues apology
382 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
321 - Utes won't respond to Hall
264 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
123 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
114
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
$600 million for a 6 mile long "bridge" across Utah Lake? That should be a...
No matter who it was that did not respond, I think all of the police...
A great article! We have 6 boys (not quite so close in age), and are finding...
My in laws are raising my wife's niece (even though her mother lives at home...
Regardless, The letter writer is spot on. Sports fans have gotten...
Agreed, they want to come to the USA for a 'better life' yet bring the old...
Ironic and sad that Coach W.'s wife got a bit roughed up due to a Ute fan's...
You will lose to Skyline first. Skyline owns you. The district said...
The rivalry should be fierce and heated. It makes it more fun. But it...
Hall shouldn't have made the comments, but some people will have a hard time...


You can be the first to comment on this story.