COMMERCE CITY — The Adams 14 School Board voted to censure its president for official misconduct Tuesday night on claims that she has publicly embarrassed and bullied fellow board members.
The vote was 4-to-1 against president Jeannette Lewis, with Lewis dissenting. The public rebuke carries no legal weight.
Lewis remains president of the school board until November, when she must step down because of term limits.
The Adams 14 district has been roiled by controversy before. In May, the board narrowly voted to explore an “exit strategy” for Superintendent Susan Chandler.
Board members said they heard from parents and staff members that Chandler had fostered an atmosphere of intimidation. But in June, the board voted to end the exit strategy, and Chandler stayed on as superintendent.
Lewis voted in May to retain Chandler. This week’s censure vote was a reaction to Lewis trying to quash dissent among her colleagues, said board member Robert Vashaw.
“I believe she used her authority to take away my rights to vote on issues and to place items on the agenda,” Vashaw said. “I believe she has overstepped her bounds, overstepped her power.”
Lewis declined to comment Wednesday.
Vashaw said Lewis publicly called him out four weeks ago over an e- mail he sent to a candidate explaining district policy for campaigning on school grounds. Vashaw said he apologized for not asking permission from the entire board before sending the e-mail.
But Lewis, he said, publicly accused him of an ethics violation. “We could have discussed it as a school board and could have voted on it, but instead Jeanette came after me with a vengeance,” Vashaw said.
Others say Lewis should be praised for her work on the board.
One comment left on the Commerce City-based Gateway News blog said, “Censure Lewis, that’s a bunch of hogwash. . . . The only people who hate her are those that do not understand she is probably the most intelligent . . . that has ever been on the board.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
