In another twist in a continuing saga, Trustee Tony Miller was asked to leave a Friday, Aug. 22 special meeting of the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education.
The meeting, called as a closed session because of “pending litigation,” came as a result of a lawsuit filed by Miller against Superintendent Al Roberts.
The suit, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court Thursday, Aug. 14, was motivated because of the alleged conflict of interest between his elected post and his position as a “supplemental” Clarkston High School football coach. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3 before Circuit Judge John J. McDonald.
“They told me I had to leave because I’m the plaintiff,” Miller said on his way out of the school administration building. “This is against the law.”
Earlier, Miller said he had been advised not to attend, but he was urged to do so by his attorney, Arthur Weiss.
“Tony is the plaintiff in the suit and it would not be appropriate for Mr. Miller to be in the meeting,” Roberts said. “Mr. Miller did not consult with the board before bringing the suit. It was not a personal issue but rather strategy for a lawsuit. I don’t think we could have done it any other way. I am sorry he is upset. I am shocked about all this.”
Weiss said the meeting itself was improper.
“The Clarkston school board is not a party to the lawsuit,” Weiss said earlier Friday. “If [Roberts] feels he has to rally the troops, that’s his personal business.”
The fact that Roberts is employed by the school board, “doesn’t mean anything,” Weiss said.
Roberts said it is the school board’s responsibility to defend the superintendent and the school district.
“It is in just about every superintendent’s contract that if a suit is brought against the superintendent the school board is responsible for the defense. They are picking up the tab and they are responsible. If not I don’t think many people would take this job,” Roberts said.
Details from the meeting can not be released due to attorney-client privilege.
Roberts said he does not want this situation to distract him from his job as superintendent.
“My time has to be focused on starting school for almost 8,000 kids. I am not going to divert my attention from that,” Roberts said.
(Kyle Gargaro contributed to this story.)