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Six Denver college board members shared their displeasure with the seventh board member, John Youngquist, Thursday night, saying his current actions had been disappointing and upsetting.
The dialogue stemmed from Youngquist’s December allegation that the board violated state open conferences regulation. Three board members — Michelle Quattlebaum, Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán, and Scott Esserman — countered in a letter to board President Carrie Olson that Youngquist acted unprofessionally towards board members and workers and stated his claims of open assembly violations had been unfounded.
On Thursday, Youngquist’s six board colleagues spoke in stern however measured tones in regards to the impression of his actions.
“I’m deeply dissatisfied within the problematic comportment that I’ve seen from you on this final yr,” stated Gaytán. “I imagine that the conduct isn’t going to vary.”
Esserman stated he was involved in regards to the period of time the board has spent on the controversy and famous that outdoors legal professionals employed by the district confirmed the board didn’t violate open assembly regulation.
Youngquist responded briefly after the opposite six board members spoke, saying he wrote the Dec. 17 letter containing the allegations in a “second of frustration.” He additionally stated he appreciated listening to board members’ suggestions and dedicated to following district coverage on board member conduct.
The episode with Youngquist and the opposite board members is paying homage to among the infighting that dogged the board for a lot of 2022. Throughout that interval, a number of board members locked horns, with accusations of bullying and harassment.
A number of board members on Thursday drew contrasts between the present scenario and the issues two years in the past.
“I wish to guarantee you, the neighborhood, and our pals within the media, that the board is on a robust and productive path, hallmarked by accountability and transparency,” stated Olson.
She described Thursday’s dialogue as uncomfortable however vital.
Board member Marlene De La Rosa stated some individuals wish to label the present board as dysfunctional, however that’s not correct.
“What we’re displaying right here in the present day is our collective accountability, transparency, and the flexibility to speak with one another respectfully and professionally.”
Youngquist’s current accusation that the board violated open conferences regulation stems from a Dec. 12 government session the place board members mentioned state pension guidelines that restrict how a lot Youngquist, a former district worker, may be paid by the district for official college board duties.
Youngquist claimed within the Dec. 17 letter to Olson that the aim of the chief session was not correctly said within the public discover as required by regulation. He additionally objected to being excluded from the chief session.
A district courtroom decide discovered that the district violated open conferences regulation in 2023 after a lawsuit introduced by Chalkbeat and different media organizations.
Two days after Youngquist despatched the letter, Gaytán introduced at a faculty board assembly that she, Quattlebaum, and Esserman, wished to debate coverage violations by Youngquist on Jan. 9.
The board didn’t go into particulars about his alleged violations on the time, however talked about he’d accused the board of an absence of transparency and that he’d proven “conduct unbecoming of a board member” towards Denver Public Colleges workers.
The Denver Put up reported Thursday that Youngquist stated he was conscious of two situations when he offended senior district workers members up to now yr. One case occurred in February, when he was instructed he offended Deborah Staten, the district’s chief of workers. Youngquist instructed the Put up he was unclear how he had performed so.
The opposite case occurred a month later throughout an e mail trade between Youngquist and Aaron Thompson, the district’s normal counsel. Youngquist didn’t really feel Thompson answered his questions adequately and stated in an e mail the lawyer’s response represented a manipulation. Thompson then advised Youngquist’s pushback stemmed from racial biases, in response to the emails reviewed by the Put up.
In an e mail reply to Youngquist, Thompson wrote, “Traditionally, stereotypes of deceitfulness and manipulation have been unjustly and harmfully utilized to Black people and communities.”
Gaytán stated at Thursday’s assembly she wouldn’t publicly disclose specifics about Youngquist’s conduct towards workers, however stated “I really feel that it’s unfair and unjust to the staff.”
After the half-hour dialogue of Youngquist’s conduct on Thursday, some board members appeared happy along with his response. Others discovered it missing.
Quattlebaum thanked Youngquist for expressing his settlement with board targets, however stated “I’m struggling to establish the accountability piece in what you simply shared.”
Esserman stated he hadn’t seen the extent of accountability he’d like in current information tales the place Youngquist mentioned the dispute.
“I’m feeling that that’s nonetheless lacking and hope to listen to it sooner or later,” Esserman stated.
Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, masking early childhood points and early literacy. Contact Ann at [email protected].
