Fayette schools responds to Lexington NAACP allegations of ‘mishandling’ principal’s leave

The president of the Lexington-Fayette branch of the NAACP in a Monday statement said the group is concerned about potential “mishandling” of the Dunbar High School principal’s recent suspension.

In the statement, President Whit Whitaker said “there appears to be procedural mishandling, action, and treatment of the (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School) principal who was recently placed on administrative leave.”

Marlon Ball, principal of Dunbar, was placed on leave related to an allegation of inappropriate conduct, according to a Nov. 2 letter from Superintendent Demetrus Liggins to Ball notifying him of the leave. The Herald-Leader obtained the letter under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

Earlier that day, the school district released a statement saying the Fayette schools community was “grieving” the death of athletic director Jason Howell. The statement went on to say “concerns” raised by members of Dunbar’s staff would be investigated and that Ball was being placed on leave.

Howell’s death was being investigated as a suicide, the Fayette County coroner said.

“We are aware of the concerns raised by members of the Dunbar staff,” the Nov. 2 statement said. “Reports of this nature are taken seriously and will be fully investigated. Per our normal human resources procedures, Dunbar Principal Marlon Ball has been placed on administrative leave. As with any personnel matter, we are unable to comment further.”

In response to Whitaker’s statement, district officials said they value and respect the NAACP as a community partner and friend, but said the NAACP statement was inaccurate.

NAACP questions district’s communications

Whitaker’s Monday statement cited an email he said the district sent to parents reiterating Howell’s death and included an announcement that the principal was being placed on administrative leave due to “inappropriate conduct.”

“This calls into our first question of whether the District’s email was the spark that began the rumors of unfairly tying the principal to the death of the athletic director,” Whitaker’s statement said. “This was further exacerbated by online chatter about a statement that the principal made on his personal social media page that was purportedly about the deceased educator, as well as unsubstantiated allegations made to the media by a Dunbar HS teacher/(school council) member accusing the principal of .... harassing his staff members.”

Fayette district officials said in response that there was no district email to families at Dunbar in which the death of the athletic director and the administrative leave of the principal were both mentioned.

“Those two incidents were linked solely in online comments by private citizens and subsequent media coverage,” district officials said.

The Lexington-Fayette NAACP believes that “there is something inherently wrong, unjust and irresponsible in allowing the narrative to be inferred and driven by the personal opinions of staff members that chose to push the narrative suggesting that the principal had some responsibility in the untimely death of the athletic director,” Whitaker’s statement said.

The second question, Whitaker said, is whether earlier intervention by the Fayette school district could have addressed alleged complaints against the principal prior to the death of the educator.

“By allowing this strategic misdirection to spiral untethered, the actions toward the principal have taken the focus away from the much-loved educator and the grief that his family and friends are enduring,” the statement said.

Whitaker said the school district should have acted swiftly and in a more responsible manner to take control of the situation by releasing a statement discouraging any connection between the principal and the suicide.

The act of placing the principal on administrative leave and the ensuing investigation of alleged misconduct should have been held in a more private and dignified manner, “customary given the reputation of a principal with 13 years of experience in education whom the FCPS district deemed worthy and qualified less than six months prior for the position,” Whitaker wrote.

“It is concerning that the District missed an opportunity to diminish the stigma surrounding suicide and to further educate the students and the public about the signs and prevention, while also affording those affected by this loss to grieve without the negative distraction of media stories of personal opinions,” Whitaker said.

While the district has made some progress in hiring an African American superintendent, in publishing a long-awaited Equity Statement, and employing a Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, “the FCPS district’s unfortunate mishandling of this very sensitive matter will be viewed as a setback,” Whitaker said.

He said it is also concerning that the school district continues to struggle to improve recruiting and retention of African American teachers.

School district says NAACP statement inaccurate

In a Monday afternoon statement, Fayette County school officials provided their explanations in response to the NAACP’s claims.

“Pertaining to the first question raised by the NAACP, there was no district email to families at Dunbar in which the death of the athletic director and the administrative leave of the principal were both mentioned,” the district said. “Those two incidents were linked solely in online comments by private citizens and subsequent media coverage.”

However, the district’s statement after Howell’s death included mention of his passing and Ball being placed on administrative leave.

“Further, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins personally contacted members of the media to express concerns about their coverage. Requests for clarifications were denied. Regarding the second question about earlier intervention to address alleged complaints against the Dunbar principal, district actions concerning personnel issues are not a matter of public record. The NAACP would not be privy to steps the district had taken prior to placing an individual on administrative leave,” the district response’s on Monday continued.

“It is important to note that when a district employee is placed on administrative leave, it is not an action of discipline on the part of the district nor an indication of wrongdoing. Rather, it is done to remove and protect an individual so a fair and thorough investigation can be conducted to determine the facts,” the district response said.

Fayette school officials said they will continue to partner with the NAACP to advance a shared commitment to supporting the success of all students.

In a follow up interview with the Herald-Leader Monday, Whitaker said “the district should have taken control of the narrative.”

Whether or not there was an attempt by the district to talk with media, Whitaker said, “we stand firmly on saying that there should have been a more concerted, concentrated effort to be more transparent and to communicate that so the public perception would not be immediately diverted and put on to the principal’s shoulders. We are just questioning the way it was handled.”

Dale Golden, Ball’s attorney, said Monday that he was “waiting on the investigation results, and will respond at that time.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.

This story was originally published November 21, 2022 at 11:00 AM.