Prineville, Ore. – The currently embattled superintendent of the Crook County School District, Dr. Melissa Skinner, has released her first statement since calls for her resignation following the controversy over the district’s attempts to remove its athletic director from his post emerged.
The situation was further highlighted after reporting from this publication, which revealed the district’s board had also violated Bonner’s rights in holding an illegal executive session, all due to its failure to initially allow Bonner an open hearing.
At 1pm this afternoon, Skinner’s assistant sent the Prineville Review a statement, which we’ve included in full below:
Dear Crook County School Community,
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your understanding during this difficult time. The sudden passing of my father-in-law required me to be with my family out of state over the past few days.
Even during this period, I have been following the unfolding events as closely as possible and remain fully committed to addressing the matters within my control upon my return. I want to assure you that there will be no administrative changes this year.
I deeply appreciate the community's steadfast dedication to transparency and excellence for the students and staff of Crook County and whole-heartedly share those values. I am eager to continue working together to support our shared goals.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we lay my father-in-law to rest.
Dr. Melissa Skinner
Superintendent
Crook County School District
Earlier this week a student walkout of the entire high school and many middle school students took place. Students marched to Pioneer Park in downtown Prineville, followed by a march and protest outside the school district’s office. Later that evening, nearly 1000 students, parents, and other community supporters attended a public meeting to review a complaint against Bonner that was appealed.
An attorney for the district confirmed during the Dec. 16th meeting that Bonner had exercised his right to require the board to hold an open hearing (which resulted in the executive session being canceled the morning before). The board had failed to provide Bonner that opportunity the week previously, as uncovered by the Prineville Review.
Shortly before the statement’s release, the school district also responded to a public records request submitted by the Prineville Review requesting all past written notices made to any district employees for executive sessions held under ORS 192.660(2)(b) or (i). Allegations had been made following our earlier reporting that other district employees had been denied the right to require open hearings.
The district’s response said, “The Crook County School District acknowledges receipt of your public records request dated December 12, 2024, in which you requested ‘copies of all written notices made by the Crook County School Board as outlined in OAR 199-040-0030 sent since Oct 1st, 2023 to the present [December 12, 2024], to any district employee. This should be for all executive sessions in that same time period called under ORS 192.660(2)(b) or (i).’ The District is not the custodian of any records responsive to your request.”
The response seemingly confirms that the district did not fact provide any written notices, at least since Oct. of 2023, to district employees as required under Oregon’s public meetings laws. We tried speaking earlier today with the district’s new communications director, Rich Simons, for comment but was told he was not available.
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Nearly 1000 people have now signed onto a complaint calling for an investigation into Skinner’s practices, including by state agencies, into the alleged actions by Dr. Skinner. New allegations have also emerged regarding claims of nepotism and conflicts of interest over the hiring of Skinner’s own husband and son by the district, as well as the hiring of former school board director Jessica Brumble as the new Transportation Manager.
The complaint also calls on the school board for a “vote of no confidence” to be made against Skinner. Unions representing district employees and teachers are also reportedly asking for a vote by the end of today from their respective members about supporting the complaints.
The Prineville Review’s managing editor (this reporter) also spoke with KTVZ’s Isabella Warren earlier today about this publication’s decision to also disclose the contents of the earlier illegal executive session held by the school board on Dec. 9th. That segment will air at 5pm on News Channel 21 (KTVZ).
This is a developing story which you can count on us to keep you updated on.
