Sapulpa Superintendent Fired After Claims Of Racist Comments

The Sapulpa school board voted to fire its superintendent during a special meeting on Tuesday night.

Leadership concerns were brought forward when a former principal's resignation letter went public earlier this month.

The letter accused the superintendent of making racist comments, among other things.

The board went into executive session for about an hour before voting to terminate Superintendent Kevin Burr's contract.

The board didn't give any other details and declined to speak with the media about the decisions.

Burr was not at the meeting but dozens of parents, teachers and students packed the board's meeting room.

6/28/2016 Related Story; Former Sapulpa Principal Sheds Light On District Problems

Many held handmade signs and wore custom made shirts.

The school board called a special meeting to decide if they should keep Burr as the district's superintendent.                                                                                                                                                                                            

A resignation letter written by former principal Bobby Alfred called Burr's leadership skills into question.

It also accused Burr of making racially insensitive comments toward employees.

Those in the community say Sapulpa deserves better.

“I don't think anyone at any job should ever go to work feeling intimidated by their superior,” parent Alexandra Williams said.

“No matter what position... whether you're the trash man, the maintenance man, no one should ever have to feel intimidation coming from a superior, especially in a public school system.”

Burr sent a letter to his former co-workers:

"As someone once said, all good things must come to an end. I cannot thank you all enough for the effort and excellence you bring to your work every day, all in an effort to make children's lives better.

"We leave Sapulpa with our hearts full of joy as we think about the many things we've accomplished together: many of the highest student achievement scores ever at our various school sites; the highest composite ACT score ever for Sapulpa High School; the largest bond election in history; a one-of-a-kind, 21st Century approach to learn for 21st Century kids, and countless others too numerous to mention.

"We do not know what our next chapter will bring, but we look forward to it, embracing the same enthusiasm and optimism with which we came to Sapulpa four years ago.

Take care and continue working hard for Chieftain kids."