The allegations for the proposed removal of Kyle Johnson from the Cambridge-Isanti School Board were made public Tuesday, Feb. 23.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, the Cambridge-Isanti School Board approved a resolution for the proposed removal of Johnson from the board. Following the board’s action, the Isanti County News made public data requests for Exhibit A relating to the board resolution.
The district requested an opinion from the Department of Administration, Information and Policy Analysis Division as to whether the exhibit is public or private data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
On Feb. 22, the division issued its opinion that Exhibit A to the resolution is public data and was released to the newspaper.
“The board takes serious precautions when dealing with individuals’ privacy rights, which is the reason we sought a formal opinion from (the division),” said Tim Hitchings, board chair, in the district’s press release. “The board continues to respect Mr. Johnson’s rights in the removal process, while also complying with our legal obligations regarding public data.”
A hearing has been scheduled for Friday, April 15, regarding the proposed removal of Johnson. According to Cambridge-Isanti Schools communications coordinator Shawna Carpentier, the hearing will be closed to the public.
The following are the reasons for the proposed removal of Johnson as outlined in Exhibit A:
• Johnson has provided alcohol to persons under 21 years of age, including students and former students of the Cambridge-Isanti School District.
• Johnson has attended parties at the homes of students and former students of the School District when parents were not present and at which Johnson and students or former students under 21 years of age consumed alcohol.
• Johnson engaged in a plan with high school students whereby they submitted parental consent forms to donate blood with knowledge that the students had forged their parents’ signature on the form. Also, in response to inquiries regarding the forms, Johnson provided incomplete and false information to high school personnel regarding his involvement in the forged documents.
• Johnson has demonstrated a pattern of not being truthful with School District administrators regarding communication and activities with students, including social media, texting, transporting students in his automobile, socializing with students and out-of-town trips.
• Johnson has used keys to the high school to enter the building with students and former students after school hours and on weekends without permission from the administration.
Karen Kurth, an attorney with Barna, Guzy & Steffen, based out of Coon Rapids, is representing Johnson in his efforts to remain on the School Board. Johnson was elected to the School Board in November 2014 and took the oath of office in January 2015.
“Kyle has had Exhibit A all along, and that’s all they have given him in regard to the allegations,” Kurth said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon with the Isanti County News. “We have no problem with the document being made public. Our issue is the lack of specifics with the Exhibit A. Our biggest issue is how do you know this? We have no who, what, where or when. There are no dates associated with this.”
Kurth said she is frustrated by the lack of information provided by the school district.
“Kyle is denying any wrongdoing that supports proper cause to his removal from the School Board,” Kurth said. “And with such lack of information, we are trying to figure out how this relates to his service on the School Board and do we even know if these alleged incidents even happened while he has been on the School Board?”
Kurth also mentioned the district was served last week with a data practices action lawsuit regarding the matter.
“We are seeking the school district to comply with the data practices statute,” Kurth said. “We are seeking information relating to Kyle regarding his removal as an employee with the district and from the School Board. We are seeking the information that was used in outlining these allegations against Kyle. Getting this information will be critical in Kyle being able to defend himself.”