Two Resign From Palmyra School Board, Political Sign Cited As Evidence Of Division

PALMYRA – The Palmyra-Bennett School Board accepted resignations from two school board members Monday without comment.

Letters of resignation from Susan Royal and Lance Gee say the resignations are effective on Sept. 23.

Royal, a six-year board member, said the resignations are in response what appears to be systemic division on the board.

Royal: “Bullying in the board room is the best way I can describe this behavior. It should not be tolerated by any member of the community.”

Brandon Desh, who is up for election to the school board Nov. 3 and is a member of the Our Community 1st Committee, said there is no bullying. He said there are differences in opinion, however.

Desh said the school board members who resigned did not agree on the strategic plan adopted by the board and said Royal has cast dissenting votes on the school's budget and even on formalizing a bond issue that was approved by voters.

Royal said the school board should provide leadership in building community unity in Bennett, Palmyra and Douglas areas. She said new residents to the district should be aware of who is paying the taxes and who has helped over decades to build the district to where it is.

Royal: “I think there’s division within the communities. It’s been evident for 50 to 60 years. To keep going to a school board meeting that you feel you’ve accomplished nothing at the end of the night … it was just time to walk away and to let people know what is really happening.”

Royal said Tuesday that the voters put her into office to represent them and she feels that can best be done outside of the grip of the board.

Royal: : “I believe the final straw was when, for the fourth election in a row, we had campaign signs show up in yards that includes two incumbents off of the school board and one new member from the district that they personally chose.”

Names of incumbents Jaimi Calfee and Desh were included on the sign, but Gee was excluded. The sign did include new candidate Lisa Wilen.

Royal: “They have chosen to pull another member of the community out to be a candidate, which she is signed up for. She is signed up to be on the ballot. But they chose her to be campaigned with instead of the other incumbent.

So, for the fourth election in a row, they have chosen two incumbents and one new person and not included the third incumbent without discussion or understanding as to why they have chosen that way.”

Desh said Our Community 1st is an organization that has the right to let the voters know which candidates they feel will best represent the district. He said the sign was not a school board decision.

The resignations preceded  the Oct. 2 dedication of the Olson Complex.  A $5.4 million grant from the Olson Foundation funds new ballfields, artificial turf playing fields and walking path.

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