After more than two years, TPS board member E’Lena Ashley’s lawsuit against the district is over. Now the rest of the board wants attorneys to start recouping the costs.
After spending upwards of $550,000 on legal fees, TPS prevailed against Ashley and former board member Jennettie Marshall. They alleged the district violated state law in a 2023 executive session while in the hiring process for Superintendent Ebony Johnson.
On Monday, the board excluded Ashley in a vote that unanimously recommended district attorneys pursue a court order forcing her, Marshall and the third plaintiff — a charter school parent — to pay for some of those legal expenses.
“It’s responsible for the board to try and recuperate dollars, especially in a case that — in my perspective — had no credence,” board member Stacey Woolley said after the meeting.
The case was plagued by recusals and retirements of judges. Tulsa County District Court Judge Daman Cantrell retired shortly after granting a motion for summary judgment in favor of TPS, resulting in a delay filing his decision. A summary judgment resolves a lawsuit without holding a full trial. All parties must appear in court March 17 for a final judgment entry.
More than two hours earlier in the meeting, the full house was brought to its feet by students celebrating Black History Month.
Singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Booker T. Washington junior Jason Chunu joined fellow student Carter Bradford in honoring Black History Month. Bradford, a seventh grader at Carver Middle School, spoke about the influence of Martin Luther King Jr. in his life and community.
“I am blessed to live in a diverse neighborhood where people get along peacefully as brothers and sisters,” Bradford said. “Because of your dream, we are truly free at last, free at last to have a better life.”
The boys were followed by another round of celebration for Edison Preparatory’s varsity pom squad, which won the school’s first-ever national championship in the sport.
“There’s not a team that works harder than these girls right here,” said Principal Tim Maxeiner.
Credit: Anna Colletto / Tulsa Flyer
Credit: Anna Colletto / Tulsa Flyer
The board then focused in on reading outcomes for economically disadvantaged K-5 students.
The board tracks these outcomes through MAP scores, which are tests students take three times a year. These students are on track in grades K-2 to meet the district’s goals, with more than 42% scoring at or above the 50th percentile. Third through fifth grade students are falling behind at just above 39%.
But several schools are bucking that trend, including McKinley Elementary and Unity Learning Academy. Both saw improvements after implementing changes to planning and communication ahead of testing.
At McKinley, economically disadvantaged students across K-5 scored more than 10% higher than their district peers this winter. Unity saw third through fifth grade students score 10% higher than peers in the district.
The state legislature’s focus on third grade reading — and retention — crept into the board’s discussion. While TPS is glad third grade is a focus, Johnson said, having students repeat the grade should not be the sole solution. Based on its current budget, the superintendent added, funding support from the state would be necessary to meet the needs of retained students with additional interventions.
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