Telisa Reed, the Hammond interim superintendent who’s been placed on leave by the school board, left a position in Washington in 2023 after alleging harassment.

Hammond School Board president Carlotta Blake-King said Monday the board was unaware of Reed’s situation while serving as interim superintendent at Griffin School District #324 in Olympia, Washington, in 2023.

Hammond school district attorney Jewell Harris Jr. said last week that Reed complained she couldn’t work with the school board and the board voted to place her on leave until her contract expires June 30.

It’s an expensive move for the cash-starved district that could cost as much as $32,000 for an employee who isn’t working. The board agreed to pay Reed $800 a day from her February hiring to June 30, the contract termination date. Blake-King said when the board hired Reed she hoped she would stay on and become Hammond’s next superintendent.

Reed couldn’t be reached for comment.

In Olympia, Griffith School District #324 school board President Dan Teuteberg said Tuesday he had no comment on Reed’s short tenure as its interim superintendent.

On Sept. 18, 2023, that school board placed Reed on leave after a performance review.

She started as interim superintendent two months earlier on July 17.

The meeting minutes reported Griffin board member Brad Ridgeway moved to place Reed on paid leave “in light of the conflict and issues that have arisen over the last couple of months, and the dysfunction that we’ve had coming from our administration …”

During an Aug. 23, 2023, meeting, Reed complained about illegal language in her contract and said the community hasn’t been welcoming.

According to those minutes, Reed told the board that while she’s advocating for kids, members of the community have launched a “lynching” on her.

Reed went on to report a series of grievances against the Griffin teachers union and said she’s been slandered and disrespected by the community.

Back in Hammond, Reed sent an email April 17 to school board members alleging she’s been “subjected to a harassment, intimidation, and bullying that has created a hostile work environment for me.”

Reed said in the email she filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint to protect herself.

Reed told the board in the email she was willing to communicate with all of them, except board President Blake-King.

Harris said he’s aware of the email but said the district wouldn’t discuss personnel matters in the press. “Any attempt to do so is inappropriate and unprofessional,” he said.

Meanwhile, the school board is expected to appoint Anthony Salinas, its director of language development, as interim superintendent at its May 13 board meeting.

In 2024, the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board approved a corrective action plan for Hammond aimed at cutting costs.

The school board approved the closing of three elementary schools and the elimination of 19 teaching jobs and more than 100 other jobs, including 25 custodians.

The Distressed Unit Appeal Board voiced concerns over Hammond’s financial viability after voters in 2023 rejected the renewal of an $116.8 million operating referendum. According to the corrective action plan, Hammond school leaders have to meet twice a month with DUAB staff, maintain an 18-month rolling cash flow, and maintain five-year rolling income and expense projections and give an annual presentation to the board.

Carole Carlson is a freelancer.