Over the last several weeks, students in the Woodburn School District have headed back to classrooms in a hybrid model. Students have started spending some time learning at school, and the rest of the time learning at home.
At the same time, turmoil among district leadership has continued as a superintendent on leave threatened to sue, op-eds from both the superintendent and school board chair sought to share their side, and the union representing Woodburn educators shared an open letter asking that more information be shared with the community.
Monday, the board voted to fire Supt. Moreno Gilson two years before his contract ends, according to reports from the Woodburn Independent and the Salem Statesman-Journal.
Moreno Gilson had been on leave since January as an investigation was underway into a personnel complaint. An attorney representing Moreno Gilson said the complaint was from a senior district employee unhappy with Moreno Gilson’s equity and accountability efforts.
In an op-ed in the Woodburn Independent from April 14, Board Chair Anthony Medina said an investigation concluded in March and “substantiated the claims.”
“The district then worked for five weeks with Mr. Moreno Gilson and his legal representation in hopes of coming to a mutual separation agreement so he could proceed with his professional career,” Medina wrote in the op-ed.
“Those negotiations failed due to the substantial financial settlement Mr. Moreno Gilson and his attorney were demanding out of the district’s general fund — money that is dedicated to our students and student learning.”
He said the school board was “saddened that its commitment to equity is being questioned.”
In an op-ed posted the same day, Moreno Gilson said the district “backed away from the commitment it made” when it placed Moreno Gilson on leave.
Moreno Gilson’s attorney, Maria Witt, said in a release shared Monday evening that the board’s vote is “both a violation of law and an unnecessary distraction from the important work that needs to be done in Woodburn schools.”
Reflecting on the year and the pandemic’s impact on Woodburn staff, families, and community members, Medina asked for a greater focus on students at this time.
“Adding an administrative change is stressful and unsettling for everyone, but it was necessary. We will continue to share information as we are able to do so,” Medina wrote in last week’s op-ed.
“In the meantime, we ask that you allow the legal process to run its course, and refocus on helping our students transition back to classroom learning.”
Former district administrator Juan Larios remains the district’s acting superintendent.
This story may be updated.