The Oakland Unified School District board late Wednesday night voted to remove Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell, according to one board member.
School board member Mike Hutchinson announced on social media after a closed session that Johnson-Trammell would be removed at the end of the school year. But the board president on Thursday said a final decision on the matter was not reached.
"There is premature information in the media regarding the OUSD Superintendent transition," Oakland school board president Jennifer Brouhard said in a statement. "If there's a vote in closed session to end the contract of the superintendent, it must be reported in open session immediately after. As reported out in open session, the Board took no final action on the public employment item in closed session.
"It's also illegal for any Board member to disclose what was discussed in closed session," Brouhard's statement continued. "As with all Board actions, we are committed to providing a quality education in service of our students, staff, families, and community."
The matter comes after months of conflict within the district, including layoffs and enrollment issues amid a reported $95 million budget deficit.
Hutchinson says Johnson-Trammel has been key in turning the district around and working to get out-of-state receivership. He expressed concern other senior leaders would leave with her.
"In closed session at tonight’s school board meeting, President Brouhard, Vice President (Valarie) Bachelor, Director (Rachel) Latta, and Director (VanCedric) Williams voted to break Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell’s contract and force her out at the end of June," Hutchinson wrote in a social media post.
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Hutchinson went on to say he was upset about the move and that he intends to fight. Other district officials and board members did not comment on the move.
According to Hutchinson's post, trustees also voted to begin an immediate search for a new superintendent to begin on July 1 and to begin payout negotiations with Johnson-Trammell.
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He has since said that the board has not budgeted for a potential payout or other costs associated with replacing the superintendent.
Brouhard said Johnson-Trammell's current three-year contract is still in effect and that discussing details from any closed session violated state law.
"When I hear things said about pushing her out and all that, you know. You don't do that to somebody you respect and we respect her role and what she's contributed," she said. "So, there's no effort to push her out or any of that other stuff. And I think it creates misinformation."
The Oakland NAACP chapter has since called for transparency.
"We teach our students to exercise integrity, stand by your decisions, to answer questions thoroughly and honestly and we are not seeing that representation with this board," said Dee Morris, the education chair of the Oakland NAACP.
