EVANSTON — Controversy returned to the Uinta County School District No. 1 board meeting on May 9, after school board trustees withdrew into an hour-long executive session for personnel and legal matters. Upon coming out, they approved a joint agreement with Ascent with modification before hitting the last big (and controversial) topic, a board resolution. 

Although the resolution was supposed to be from the board, not all trustees had known about it before it was created. 

In response to trustee Tammy Walker’s concerns about where the resolution had come from, board clerk Jami Brackin said the board came out of executive session at a recent meeting and administration wanted to know whether the board supports some of the things that have been done. Brackin wasn’t sure whether there was even a majority of the board remaining, but the trustees tasked board chair Cassie Torres with crafting a document to publicly recognize district employees.

For the last two board meetings, the board has announced that it would adjourn out of executive session, effectively dismissing everyone else in attendance.

The document has two resolution statements, both of which originally recognized Superintendent Ryan Thomas, the administration and UCSD No. 1 employees for improving communication, implementing the district’s philosophy, balancing the budget and implementing the 2016-2017 strategic plan.

Citing concerns about the resolution’s wording, claims and origin, Walker immediately motioned to table it, with David Bennett seconding the motion. 

“Considering the conception of this resolution happened in an executive session that I was excluded from, I question the intention of this resolution,” Walker said, “and I do not agree with claims in here that are unsubstantiated ...”

She asked that the board wait to approve the resolution until it has some empirical data proving the statements. She also said she signals approval and gives her blessing to employees when approving contracts.

“I see this document as unnecessary, binding and weird,” Walker said. 

However, the board was split on the issue. 

Torres and Bateman said the first resolution statement is intended to recognize the hard work of Thomas, the administration and employees. 

“I don’t think that, in order for us to have a resolution, that we have to have documented numbers,” Torres said. “... I think the district as a whole has done a lot to increase that (communication), and I want to acknowledge that.” 

Torres also said Walker had recused herself from the executive session, so the resolution was not done behind her back. 

Walker answered that both Phillips and Thomas told her the document came out of executive session and that it should be brought up in a public meeting. 

In the roll call vote to table the resolution, the board was split 4-4 (trustee Kerby Barker had left during the executive session) and the motion failed. Those voting to table the resolution were Walker, Brackin, Bennett and Josh Welling; those voting in favor of the resolution were Kay Fackrell, Bateman, Torres and Jenny Welling.

Brackin then asked to change the wording in the first resolution to reflect the district as a whole (instead of specifically naming Thomas, central administration and employees) and to change “implementing and improving” to just “implementing.” 

Fackrell said it is important to recognize the superintendent and administration and that part of the problem is when people fail to accept some people as their boss; he asked for the wording to remain in at least one of the resolutions. 

When the amendments and the resolution came to a final vote, they passed the board with a 7-1 vote, with Walker voting against. 

The board adjourned at 10:41 p.m.