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The Willow Run Board of Education unanimously voted to terminate its contract with former Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks Tuesday night during a special...read more
Willow Run Community Schools began closed hearings Tuesday for former district Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks.
Hicks is accused of taking thousands more in pay and benefits than she was entitled to, and abusing paid sick leave. She is also accused of acting unprofessionally with parents and staff, doing unauthorized research for her doctorate using Willow Run students and staff and fraudulently obtaining a new contract with the board that included additional pay and benefits.
During the hearings, witnesses are speaking to more than 15 specific charges presented against Hicks. If the board finds the charges to be accurate, the district will immediately terminate its contract with Hicks.
Board President Sheri Washington would not comment on the hearings because they were closed.
"We got started, and we're just going to get through the process," she said.
Former district Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson will also face hearings in the coming weeks. According to a 46-page memo submitted to the district by Washington, Hope-Jackson knowingly allowed Hicks to receive extra pay and benefits, duped the board into signing a new contract for Hicks with additional pay and benefits that were not board-approved, and knowingly allowed Hicks to use weeks of sick leave while she was actually working on her doctorate in Massachusetts.
The memo also includes pages of first-hand accounts of Hope-Jackson mistreating teachers and staff.
"In terms of the charges, we want to treat them both individually," Washington said.
Washington was unsure how long the hearings would take, but they are scheduled to continue next week.
Related article:
Board releases details of charges against Hope-Jackson