LIMA — More than 50 people turned out Tuesday at the Perry schools board meeting to defend what they believe is a movement to oust high school principal Nick Weingart.
Board president Rusty Rush said in a phone interview Wednesday that he couldn’t discuss the status of Weingart because the talks were in executive session.
However, several residents who attended the meeting say the meeting became heated when the board was discussing a three-year contract for Weingart and the public was not allowed to speak.
School district resident Jennifer Cummins said she was present at the meeting.
“Personally, I have the utmost regard for our high school principal,” said resident Jennifer Cummins. “The board is supposed to represent us, but they are representing their own personal vendettas.”
Rush confirmed the board had to take a 10-minute recess due to unruliness. He said board members went to the school library during the break.
“We wanted to give the crowd a chance to cool down,” Rush said.
School board policy dictates that anyone wishing to speak at a school board meeting is entitled to up to three minutes. However, board policy also dictates that potential speakers contact the superintendent’s office at least five days prior to the meeting. The board president and the superintendent then discuss the topic of the request, per policy, and the speaker is also required to register the night of the meeting.
Rush said the board received no request to address the board within that policy.
However, one former board member said people wanting the floor were denied only because of the issue at hand.
“We always let people speak if they came to the board meeting and wanted to address something,” said Yvonne Marrs. “We never required someone to contact us prior. This was only because of what the issue was.”
Marrs supports Weingart and believes certain board members had personal issues with him. She said a large stack of letters from students supporting Weingart had been collected.
Current board member Stephanie Neal declined discussing details concerning Weingart’s contract, also citing executive session. However, she said Weingart has her full support.
“I do not want him removed,” Neal said. “My kids attend Perry, and I think he has done a great job.”
Neal said feedback she has received has been “100 percent community support for Weingart.”
Perry superintendent Omer Schroeder referred all questions to Rush and said he had no comment.
The issue was tabled and put on the agenda for the July 19 meeting.
Weingart has been principal at the school for nine years. Kathy Sholl is serving as interim high school principal due to a health issue that Weingart is experiencing.
Weingart did not respond to an email sent Thursday.
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