Cherokee Tribune – Marlow sanctioned BoE Board member violated ethics policy

CANTON — After four hours of testimony and discussion, the Cherokee County School Board voted Wednesday night to sanction School Board Member Kelly Marlow for two violations of the board’s ethics policy.

The board voted 5-2, with Marlow and Michael Geist opposed, that Marlow violated the first policy in question to “Recognize that the authority of the board rests only with the board as a whole and not with individual board members and act accordingly.”

The board then voted 6-1, with only Marlow opposed, that she violated the other policy in question: “Take no private action that will compromise the board or school system administration.”

The School Board then went through a lengthy discussion about how Marlow should be sanctioned, and took several rounds of voting before agreeing in a 5-2 vote that she would pay $3,600 to reimburse the School District to help cover some of the cost of the hearing. Marlow and Geist were the only to oppose making the accused board member pay.

Marlow declined to comment after the hearing Wednesday.

The hearing was called to determine if Marlow violated the school board’s code of ethics by sending a complaint letter in June to AdvancEd and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the agency in charge of school accreditation, claiming that the district was in violation of their standards and/or policies. The agency later cleared the School District of any violations.

Before the vote to sanction Marlow, Board Member Rob Usher said he was against any financial penalty for Marlow.

via Cherokee Tribune – Marlow sanctioned BoE Board member violated ethics policy.