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Responding to concerns from at least one board member, the state school board will meet Thursday to vote on the appointment of an interim superintendent.
Board leaders had appointed an interim superintendent more than a week ago to replace Martell Menlove, who will retire in coming weeks. But board member Terryl Warner, of Hyrum, wrote an email to fellow board members Sunday night saying the board's own bylaws require that the full board be involved in such decisions in public meetings.
She also asked for an independent investigation into possible misuse of power and authority by fellow board members, and she alleged the board discussed topics in closed session that should have been public.
Board Chairman David Crandall said Tuesday that typically, the board would appoint the deputy superintendent to serve as superintendent until a permanent one is chosen, but Deputy Superintendent Brenda Hales left work earlier this month, saying she would use vacation and other leave until her retirement becomes official at the end of this year.
Crandall said he had anticipated asking the full board to ratify the appointment of Joel Coleman, superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, at its next regular meeting. But he decided to hold a meeting Thursday instead, after concerns were expressed.
Crandall also said Tuesday he's asked the attorney general's office to look into allegations that the board violated the Open and Public Meetings Act.
Warner said Tuesday she's happy a meeting has been called, saying, "We need to be transparent and we need to make sure we have a chance to get input from people, our constituents."
The meeting will be at 8:10 p.m. Thursday at the State Office of Education, 250 E. 500 South.
Twitter: @LisaSchencker