'I have let our district down' Simmons apologizes as school board plans special meeting
Just moments before the Columbus City Schools board scheduled an executive session to discuss investigation of "charges or complaint against a public official," the member at the center of a leaked document scandal on Thursday apologized for the memo, but reiterated that others were involved in its creation.
The CCS board will meet next Wednesday in private executive session to consider "the investigation of charges or complaints against a public official," and also concerning "disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action."
The document in question is a draft of a strategy for handling opposition to the district's plan to close school buildings and was first published Tuesday by the Columbus Education Association, the union representing the district's more than 4,500 teachers and other educational professionals, after a fellow board member shared it.
In its release, the CEA said the document was racially divisive, and called for a pause to the closure process and for Simmons to resign. The only official district statement from President Christina Vera since Tuesday said that Simmons was solely responsible for the document.
Who is Brandon Simmons? What to know about CCS board member at center of leak scandal
In the statement published on his social media page just one minute before the meeting was announced, Simmons apologized to district union leadership and said that he takes responsibility for his role in the events of this week. He said he believes he should "have stood up and spoken up that the thoughts offered were unacceptable."
"I have let our District down," Simmons said. "The words on that document should not exist. The document should not have been written. Myself and others made a serious error in judgment."
In his statement, Simmons once again reiterated that others were involved in the production of the document. He also appears to emphasize that others also collaborated and contributed to the "unacceptable" ideas that "were not in concert with" his values.
Our view: Underhanded plan calls school board's ethics into question. Responsible must resign now.
"I am deeply sorry that this document was written," Simmons said. "I take responsibility for my participation in this— not just that this document was written, but for these thoughts I had and allowed others to have."
Simmons did not provide evidence of multiple meetings and collaboration in his third statement, or name any collaborators on the document.
Board schedules meeting
The Board of Education scheduled the special executive session for next Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the district offices at 270 E. State St. in downtown Columbus. District officials did not respond to Dispatch requests on Thursday for comment about the meeting.
According to the meeting notice, the board will immediately enter executive session "the investigation of charges or complaints against a public official," and also concerning "disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action."
The board will not act on any items during this session, according to the notice.
More on CCS document leak: 'Appalled': Columbus school board member shares why she leaked memo at heart of scandal
@Colebehr_report
Cbehrens@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City School board to have special meeting, Simmons apologizes
