By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — During a special meeting of the Marshfield School Board on Tuesday, board member Mary Carney asked to read aloud a resignation letter by district occupational therapist Lisa Scheunemann but was discouraged from doing so by other board members.

Carney said of the letter, “I think there’s some concerning things in there about why she decided to resign.”

Board member Amber Leifheit said she had read the letter, but other board members had not.

“I guess I’m hesitant to read it (at the board meeting),” Board Vice President Frances Bohon said, adding that reading resignation letters aloud at meetings was not something the board had done in the past.

“It wasn’t addressed to the public,” added Leifheit.

The letter, Carney said, was addressed to the school board, Superintendent Dee Wells, and Director of Student Services Tracey Kelz.

The board approved Scheunemann’s resignation as well as two other resignations, prompting a reporter to ask Wells, “Was it appropriate to vote on the resignation if the board members had not read her (Scheunemann’s) letter of resignation. What if there was something in there that could have been remedied?”

Wells responded, “I will tell you this, that she has a position somewhere else, so, you know, that’s all I know to say about it because I haven’t even read it myself.”

Hub City Times asked Carney for a copy of the letter, but in an email Carney replied, “Under advice of the WI Association School Board attorney, I will not be able to send out a copy of Lisa Scheunemann’s resignation letter.”

Hub City Times has also filed an open records request with the Marshfield School District for a copy of the letter, to which the district has not responded.