Tensions High At School Board Meeting

Tensions run high at an area school board meeting marred by bickering.  The Broken Arrow School Board didn't meet at all last week because three members boycotted.  The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports this week, those members tried to school the superintendent on respect.

Several school board members say they've been disrespected.  The superintendent says they're paralyzing the district.  And, the bickering has led to a call to stop videotaping public meetings and limit how the superintendent can talk about the board.

Several board members say the trouble is about a mass email the superintendent sent, criticizing them.  BA Superintendent Dr. Jim Sisney and his attorney Gary Richardson say this is an attempt to muzzle the superintendent.

He says this is all in retaliation for some questions he asked about a vendor, who used to work for Broken Arrow Schools.  Richardson says that vendor had a blank check to do work for the district.

The board says this is about respect.  And, not using school resources to bad mouth them.

The school board voted to keep videotaping its meetings.   And, it also asked that the superintendent not use school resources to discuss his relationship to the board.