In October, the Siletz Valley School Board launched an investigation of the charter school’s principal and superintendent, Casey Jackson, following seven formal complaints.
At a meeting on Dec. 14, the board announced its decision to fire Jackson.
“After a lot of tough conversations, the decision was made by the board to terminate Mrs. Jackson’s employment from the Siletz Valley Schools,” Board Chair Willie Worman wrote in an email obtained by Underscore News. “This was not an easy decision. However, the board came to the conclusion that this is what would be best for our school, teachers, community and students going forward.”
The investigation of Jackson, who was named principal in summer 2022, began after her reaction to a student protest on Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct. 9.
Students at Siletz Valley School, a majority Indigenous school located just outside the Siletz Indian Reservation, balked at a school policy requiring students to attend classes on a federal holiday celebrating Indigenous people. More than a quarter of the students walked out in protest.
“I want people to understand what Indigenous Peoples Day is and why we felt so strong about it,” Zoey Howard, Siletz, a 16-year-old student who participated in the walkout told Underscore at the time. “It is a day of trauma. It’s meant to celebrate Indigenous people for what we’ve been through. And I want people to know that’s why we walked out.”
The following day, Jackson, who is not Indigenous, called students over the loudspeaker to a meeting, where she berated them for walking out. Students captured the interaction on a recording.
The school, chartered by the Lincoln County School District, is run by a five-member board chosen by qualified people -- anyone who is a parent or guardian of a Siletz Valley student, any employees of the school any residents of the zip code in which the school is located or the zip code immediately east of that -- who vote in person at the school.
At an Oct. 24 board meeting, students addressed the school board. The board made three major decisions. First, to honor Indigenous Peoples Day moving forward. Second, to observe Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for survivors of boarding schools and their families, as a holiday with no classes. And lastly to place Jackson on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
What’s next
More than three months into the school year, the board is searching for an interim principal to finish out the year. In the email obtained by Underscore, Worman said the board decided to immediately reach out to the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators to start that process.
Until that time, vice principal Kent Rilatos, Siletz, will continue to fill in as principal, as he has since Jackson went on administrative leave.
The board is currently preparing for the possibility that Jackson could sue – allegedly over claims of discrimination.
“We more than half expect litigation,” Worman said. “I can confirm that we investigated the issues and decided to terminate Casey’s employment based on the fact that we determined the school can’t successfully move forward under her leadership.”
-- Nike Bartoo-Smith, Underscore News; nbartoosmith@underscore.news