Updated April 15, 8:01 a.m.
The Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent is "out of the office."
That's all the district's board of education said after meeting for five hours in executive session Thursday night to discuss the employment status of Rob Neu. After the meeting Board Chair Lynne Hardin said Neu has not submitted a resignation, but Associate Superintendent Aurora Lora has been assigned the additional responsibilities of superintendent in addition to her current role.
Hardin said the board could not comment any further because of the ongoing personnel issue.
Statement from OKCPS Board of Education Special Meeting, April 14, 2016. pic.twitter.com/OzcD3MPWOC
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) April 15, 2016
Neu was not in attendance during Thursday night's meeting, but Oklahoma City school officials kept in touch with his attorney, The Oklahoman's Tim Willert reports:
When asked about his employment situation before the board meeting ended, Neu said, "I cannot comment at this time." Board attorney Brandon Carey said the board did not suspend Neu. The board called for the special meeting Monday, after Neu told some of them he was going to resign last weekend during a district-paid trip to Boston. Neu and seven of the board's eight members were there for the National School Boards Association's annual conference when he made his intentions known.
The board is expected to meet again April 25 to discuss Neu's future with the district.
Updated April 12, 11:21 a.m.
Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent Rob Neu says rumors of his resignation are premature.
"I have not resigned. I am very disappointed that this was reported in the news media. I have no further comment at this time," Neu said in a statement Tuesday morning.
What we know: Neu has told some board members he plans to resign. Neu has not resigned. Neu has not denied report.
— Ben Felder (@benfelder_okc) April 12, 2016
However, OKCPS says the situation will be talked about during a special meeting Thursday evening.
OKCPS statement regarding Superintendent Rob Neu. pic.twitter.com/wieK8hoJyN
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) April 11, 2016
As of Monday evening, Neu had not filed any formal resignation paperwork with the district, the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange's Emily Wendler reports:
Neu’s contract is not officially over until the end of next school year, and this is only his second year on the job. Last year, Neu rallied community members to get involved in the future of the district—and together they produced long-term goals—calling it "The Great Commitment." Neu's tenure has been plagued by discipline problems and major budget cuts due to a state revenue shortfall.
Original Post
Facing $30 million in budget cuts, Superintendent Rob Neu will reportedly step down this week.
The Oklahoman’s education reporter Tim Willert reports Neu told school Oklahoma City Public Schools Board members he plans to resign:
A special board meeting to discuss Neu's employment will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 900 N Klein. Neu and all but one member of the board were in Boston over the weekend for the National School Boards Association conference.
The news of Neu’s impending departure comes just a few days after Oklahoma City Public Schools announced layoffs affecting 92 administrative positions. In a separate story Monday, Willert reports 26 schools in the Oklahoma City district will lose assistant principals – with nine elementary campuses having no assistant principal to handle discipline issues:
Ed Allen, president of the teachers' union that bargains with the district, said the reductions will saddle principals with more responsibility. "Their job essentially revolves around student behavior," Allen said. "It's going to be more work for the principals ... and some our principals don't like dealing with discipline."
Neu joined OKCPS in July 2014, and quickly announced plans to add more technology to Oklahoma City classrooms, increase teacher pay, and start a student loan forgiveness program for University of Central Oklahoma students who spend three years teaching in Oklahoma City.
Last week an Oklahoma City teachers’ union criticized Neu and asked him to renegotiate his contract, according to KOKH-TV’s Austin Prickett and Phil Cross.
Everyone I have talked with today connected with OKC Public Schools do not see Neu's decision as a surprise.
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) April 11, 2016
From the letter signed by Oklahoma City AFT president Ed Allen:
Neu has not changed his management style since his arrival in Oklahoma City. He rules by fear and he will do or say anything to get what he wants. His displays of anger and shouting are well known. He frequently blames the messenger, down plays problems and displays a lack of transparency. To summarize, Superintendent Neu did not live in his Michigan school district and left Michigan because he didn’t want to deal with budget problems. He also wanted to improve his family’s quality of life. Therefore he moved to Federal Way, Washington, where his family still resides.
From the teacher's union...sent around prior to the announced plans for Neu's resignation: pic.twitter.com/7vHv8zaTCQ
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) April 11, 2016
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