‘Witch hunt:’ JCCC investigating trustee after anonymous complaints about transparency
After learning an anonymous email was sent to state legislators detailing concerns about transparency and other issues at Johnson County Community College, the Board of Trustees is calling for a censure of member Angeliina Lawson.
Lawson — who has not directly taken credit for the email, sent from a private account, but instead called it a combination of concerns she hears from constituents — considers the board’s actions to be a “witch hunt.” Board members argue the email included several pieces of false information, adding that it being distributed to state leaders is an “embarrassment” and “disappointment.”
The board last week voted to start a fact-finding process to investigate the email and Lawson’s actions. That could lead to censure, a rare move that could strip Lawson of her positions on committees. Chris Gray, a spokesman for the college, said the investigation should be completed by February.
“This is not a moment to be proud of. I’m not aware of any time when we’ve had to do this with a trustee. But the time is now,” Chairman Jerry Cook said at last week’s meeting.
The controversy follows several others at the college over the last couple of years. JCCC was criticized this past fall by several board member candidates ahead of the election, as well as many residents, who say the college is not transparent with the community — pointing to decisions like eliminating the track program.
The board of trustees also is in the middle of finding a new college president, after President Joe Sopcich announced he is stepping down. Before the announcement this summer, Sopcich was at the center of a controversy about an overheard conversation he had with Lawson regarding tuition costs.
Lawson argued she is now being penalized for asking questions, speaking out and criticizing the college.
“I would like to be able to get the answers to the public. There have been a lot of concerns about the lack of public input,” Lawson told The Star, adding the email was never meant to be shared publicly. “It’s so simple, but it feels like the world is blowing up because of this.”
Gray said, “Upholding the integrity and reputation of the college does not equate to not asking tough questions as Trustee Lawson implies. Also, it should be pointed out there is a difference in questions versus statements and much of the ‘anonymous’ letter … was riddled with misinformation and statements that are factually incorrect and lacking questions.”
While some board members highlighted the need for transparency, they said Lawson is going about voicing her concerns the wrong way. She claimed she has tried to bring up her concerns with board members in the past.
“I can’t condone this conduct. It is confounding,” Trustee Lee Cross said at the meeting, adding that he has disagreed with fellow board members on several other issues. “I deeply respect (Lawson’s) passion and her drive to be involved. I simply don’t know what to do, nor can I abide by it.”
Cross said the college is at risk because of the “rogue statements of a trustee.”
Lawson, trustees at odds
Most of the anonymous email details issues with the college’s policies on art collection, the bidding process and disposal of trash. Nearly every statement in the letter was rebutted by Cook in a memo to trustees.
But the overarching theme of the email is the lack of transparency at JCCC, calling for legislation and action to provide more oversight of the community college system.
“The purpose of this email is to ask for change,” the email said. “We can fix our community college system by providing protection for elected officials if admin and boards collude. We can prevent boards from blocking information and controlling access of other board members.”
Some trustees called Lawson hypocritical because she is asking for more transparency while refusing to directly say she wrote the email. It states that it was written by a trustee but does not include a name. Lawson refused to answer when trustees pushed her to clarify she is the author.
Cook said the email was somehow distributed to the Kansas Board of Regents, which told Sopcich about it. Lawson denies sending the letter to the state board.
At last week’s meeting, many trustees worried about a loss of local control over the college.
“We talk about ethics, but the memo itself in how it was represented, in my opinion, is very unethical,” Cook said. “The person who wrote the memo said we need more oversight and wants the legislature to adopt legislation … We have always maintained that local control is what this college has been successful on.”
In an interview, Lawson said she does not want local control taken away from JCCC. But the letter does call for greater state oversight and an external audit, and argues the Kansas Board of Regents “provides no real teeth on the ethics of our community colleges.”
Lawson said her complaints and questions are often ignored, alluding to the college silencing her criticisms. She said she’s turned down offers to meet with board members privately, and has attempted to discuss concerns at public meetings.
Some board members hinted Lawson might be bitter over votes that didn’t go her way. Lawson said the board has been one-sided for too long. She also argued she is being treated differently because she is a woman, and that Sopcich was not similarly penalized by the board after his actions caused a public controversy.
At the meeting, Cook read a statement from the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees, stating it “strongly opposes the views” in the email. Board members unanimously agreed moving toward censure was the best path forward.
“I would be pleased to hear some contrition and willingness to move on,” Trustee Greg Musil said of Lawson. “The longer we drag this on, the more damaging it is for the college.”
