James Knox, a board member of the Queen Creek Unified School District has come to blows with district staff and leadership over politics in the classroom and district staff apparently reading board member emails.
Below are slightly redacted reprints of emails between Governing Board Member Knox and district staff as provided by Knox.
Emails between Knox and Berry regarding communication between board members and parents, possibly read by district staff.
July 16, 2024
Dr. Berry,
In reviewing your email and the attached email exchange I had; I find it appalling on many levels. First, you are reading a board members emails. For what reason would you do so unless you had something to fear? Second the exchange was completely legal, and advisory in nature.
Second the three reference sections of the policy are not relative to the exchange, from what I read. If you feel I have broken some law then please take me to court. If you feel the need or a board member feels the need to have a Board Norms discussion on this then please let em know when and I will be happy to include the press on this matter.
If it is not clear to you, let me make it clear. I do not work for you! You work at the direction of the board! The manner in which you run the district with fear and intimidation is appalling, but I am not one to fear you and your sleazy tactics! It is these tactics we have such a high turn over of staff, teachers and administration and it has to stop.
Thank you,
James Knox
QCUSD Governing Board Member
July 16, 2024
Governing Board Members (bcc):
I wanted to share an email exchange (enclosed below) discovered in the course of a legal public record request processed by staff/legal. This email exchange (encl) is between an individual board member and the elementary school parent that spoke at the call to the public at the April 9, 2024 board meeting.
This email depicts a private discussion between a concerned parent and a governing board member and serves as another important legal reminder to The Board about critical policies along with your Governing Board Norms/Protocols. As you know, policies/legal guidelines are intended to ensure sound actions that provide confidentiality, ethical standards, legal compliance, district risk mitigation, etc and the intent of this email is to serve as a positive/gentle reminder/learning opportunity to that end.
To summarize, this private email exchange (encl) violates, at a minimum, policies 1-102, 4-107, and 5-303 (additional policies may be implicated) because it is an unauthorized discussion about a student safety situation that led to confidential actions among a student and staff member. My previous email to the board regarding this situation was intended strictly to clarify/respond to some comments at the board meeting. These are not re-disclosable as a public record in this fashion. Again, all public record requests must be processed through the District’s standard public record request process to preserve the integrity of the process and preserve confidential or private information that may be included in those records.
This email also includes board member encouragement for the parent to contact the media and to consider a potential legal action against the District outside of the District’s policies and procedures already in place to ensure appropriate due process is provided and the rights of all parties involved in any situation are balanced and protected. It is especially important for board members to remain neutral parties to protect due process should a student or employee issue ultimately be brought to the Board for action. Please remember that these acts result in unnecessary staff/legal work that result in avoidable use of tax-payer monies.
In the spirit of productive support for the Governing Board, we have facilitated legal reviews/trainings, board policy reviews, norm/protocol discussions, etc and we are always open to additional trainings that improve trust and transparency along with safe/responsible internal communication.
Thank you,
Perry Berry, Ed.D.
Emails between Knox and Berry regarding politics in the classroom, especially alleged pressure on teachers to tell parents to support the Override.
Dr. Berry,
First teachers and employees do not want to say anything to you due to the ruling with fear you promote in the district. Second, I will advise them to go to the SOS and the Elections office and file a formal complaint.
Thank you,
James Knox
QCUSD Governing Board Member
July 19, 2024
Mr. Knox and Governing Board Members (bcc):
Please direct the concerned teacher(s) to reach out to Amber, Jessica, or myself.
Thank you,
Perry Berry, Ed.D.
July 19, 2024
Concerned teachers? How about myself as a community member? I am asking how you can allow this to occur. How can you promote it? This is bringing politics into the classroom and is illegal.
Thank you,
James Knox
QCUSD Governing Board Member
Jul 18, 2024
Dr. Berry
I've heard from several teachers and their first day that they were spoken to by the principal informing them that they need to tell parents to support the override and also at meet the teachers night at QCHS. I think this is illegal, And at worse it's very unethical to bring politics into this environment. I say that is one that is obviously supporting the override but to tell teachers that they need to speak to parents about it and at the meet the teachers night is appalling.
Thank you,
James Knox
QCUSD Governing Board Member
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