Madison TWP. — The Madison Board of Education announced a special meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21 to discuss former superintendent Shelley Hilderbrand’s future with the district.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Madison Board of Education office. The board will then go into executive session “to consider one or more, as applicable, of the check marked items with respect to a public employee or official: appointment, employment, or dismissal.”
Board President Jeff Meyers confirmed to Richland Source the executive session would be to discuss Hilderbrand’s employment with the district.
Hilderbrand was relieved of her duties as superintendent during an emergency board meeting on Sept. 21 following a protest involving approximately 200 students during a school day and months of disapproval from the Madison community.
The board voted 5-0 to relieve Hilderbrand of her duties. The action concluded what had been a tumultuous 13-month tenure for the first-time superintendent.
The unanimous vote on Sept. 21 relieved Hilderbrand of her superintendent duties, and placed her on paid administrative leave. She is still a paid employee of Madison Local School District.
“The thing is, she’s on a three-year contract. She was relieved of her duties, but she is still being paid,” Meyers explained.
Less than a week after Hilderbrand was placed on paid administrative leave, the board hired Lee Kaple as the interim-superintendent. Kaple was the district’s superintendent for eight years prior to Hilderbrand’s hiring in August 2017.
According to a performance appraisal for the year 2017, Hilderbrand met or exceeded all prerequisite training and skill requirements. The appraisal was signed by Meyers and Hilderbrand on Jan. 31, 2018.
Hilderbrand received no negative marks in the review, and received high marks under the “leadership and program management” category. At the bottom, a note reads, “many of the topics are too difficult to evaluate with only five months tenure” but “I will say that all indicators look very promising at this time.”
“Shelly (sic) is an energizer bunny,” an additional note reads. “Everyone loves her. Excellent personality. At this time I cannot find any fault with her.
“Her positivity, involvement, and communication skills are contributing to a healthy climate within all buildings.”
Hilderbrand’s 2018 performance appraisal was not yet available, according to district treasurer Robin Klenk.
Meyers said there would be no voting after Monday’s executive session.
