The Culver Community School Board members opened a public hearing Monday evening to take comments after the board received requests to remove the School Board’s appointed members of the Culver-Union Township Public Library Board.
The requests stem from the public outcry over the termination of employment of Esmeralda “Esmie” Rodgers from the Culver-Union Township Public Library.
The Culver Community School Board appoints three members to the Culver-Union Township Public Library Board. Two of the school board’s appointees, Bill Githens and Chris Gambel, recently issued their resignations. The only appointee that remains is Kathy Boland.
Boland spoke during the public hearing where she stated that all remaining board members have resigned, although in a follow-up conversation she later stated that Marty Oosterbaan rescinded his resignation. Director Laura Jones and Assistant Director Erin Lawrence have also resigned from their positions at the library.
Boland stated the plan going forward for the library is to continue operations. The library is staffed and there is a schedule for the rest of the week. The finances of the library are also solid. She stated that the main goal is to build a healthy Culver-Union Township Public Library.
Two other patrons spoke where they spoke in favor of the work done by Esmie Rodgers and hopes that she is rehired. There were comments that they hope there is work toward reconciliation, forgiveness and accountability with a positive move forward for the community of Culver.
There were no other public comments during the public hearing.
The hearing was adjourned.
The Culver Community School Board members opened their regular session later that evening where they formally unanimously accepted the resignations of Bill Githens and Chris Gambel as the board’s appointed members on the Culver-Union Township Library Board. Boland was the School Board’s third appointment who did not submit a resignation.
The School Board was given names of two people by Karen Boland who recommended them as new appointees on the Library Board. School Board Member J.D. Uebler asked Superintendent Karen Shuman of the normal process of the board when they appoint members to the Library Board. Shuman explained that the Library Board typically interviews candidates and gives the School Board recommendations for appointment. She noted that state statute only requires the School Board to appoint members. It is based on past practice.
With that, the School Board unanimously approved the appointment of James Wolf as the appointee for Chris Gambel whose term was set to expire December 30, 2023, and Amy Kindernay as the appointee for Bill Githens whose term was set to expire December 31, 2024. Their appointments are effective immediately and will serve in those unexpired terms.
The Culver-Union Township Public Library has seven appointed members: three from the Culver Community School Board, one from the Marshall County Commissioners, one from the Marshall County Council, one from the Culver Town Council, and one from the Union Township Trustee.
