Five Employees Suspended From Chickasha Public Schools

After five Chickasha school district employees suspended last week, tonight hundreds showed up at a school board meeting looking for answers.

Yet, many are walked away still wondering what led to this 10 day suspension.

An attorney for Chickasha Public Schools says the suspensions include four administrators and one support staff. Tonight, the school board went into two executive session, and did not address the crowd or actions taken last week.

"They are standing up and speaking against with the way the school board was handling things," says parent Leah Bell.

The crowd grew so large that it had to be moved to schools activity center.

"The fact that has been done and was so secretive, I think it makes it seem like we have to do something because we know nothing," previous school board member Karen Horn.

A lawyer for the district, Richard O'Carroll, released a statement, stating the 5 people involved were either participating in the “…failure to report child abuse of special needs students and embezzlement of taxpayer dollars."

O'Carroll says more information will be released in the coming days.

However, students, parents and lawyers representing those who have been suspended say this suspension is an act of retaliation. Family of two of those staff members spoke up at the meeting.

"I just want y'all to know he is still thinking about all yall's kids, and we want this place to thrive and we want this place to succeed. We don't have any ill will for Chickasha," said daughter of Suspended Coach Yohance Brown

"It's really hard for us to be up here because my mom is accused..it's not fair to say that because she didn't do anything wrong. None of them did, the five that are accused," Daughter of Stacy Crutchfield

Community members say the teachers were protesting the actions taken by the superintendent, who's recently taken a leave of absence from his office.

"There's two sides to every story, I would think there is some real weight, or they wouldn't have brought forth a suspension that heavy. It just seems that it was not communicated well," Zack McGill who's currently running for school board seat.

Another school board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening.