By a 4-3 vote, the Hillsboro R-3 Board of Education approved a motion last night (Feb. 27) to ban board member Bo Harrison from school grounds for the remainder of the school year, except for school board meetings or functions the board attends, such as high school graduation.
Board members voting in favor of the motion were John Stewart, John Lewis, Paul Maynard and Jo Ellen Stringer. George Engelbach and Dan McCarthy joined Harrison in voting against it.
The action is tied to a Jan. 23 statement by Harrison in which he challenged the need to have a school resource officer attend school board meetings by saying, “I have an Uzi in my trunk.”
At a Feb. 18 meeting, the board voted 4-2 to censure Harrison, with Lewis and Stewart, in particular, saying they wanted to consider further action regarding Harrison’s behavior.
The matter was placed on the Feb. 27 agenda and drew a packed house of around 50 people to the district Learning Center. Five visitors spoke to the board, three in support of Harrison and two against.
Some board members said they also were concerned about reports that Harrison shows up unannounced at district school buildings and walks around without notifying front office staff.
The discussion led to a number of heated exchanges between board members, particularly between Harrison and Stewart, who made the motion to ban Harrison from campus.
Harrison alleged that those who voted for the ban had been overly influenced by others. He declined to say who he believed influenced them.
“What did I fight for my country for – to be railroaded?” Harrison asked. “You can do what you want to me, this is not going to change me.”
Harrison said board members did not act to discipline him until long after the fact, leading him to believe they did so because of outside pressure.
Stewart agreed it took too long for board members to respond to Harrison’s actions. He said he decided upon reflection that Harrison’s behavior could not be ignored.
“If the comment had been made by anyone other than a board member, action would have been taken immediately,” he said.
Harrison said his remark has been taken out of context.
“How else can you take it?” Stewart responded.
Harrison said he believes people don’t want him making surprise visits to school buildings because they don’t want him to see things that are going on.
The ban took effect immediately, but Superintendent Aaron Cornman said staff still needs to clarify what “the remainder of the school year” means.
He said he would check with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine if summer school is considered to be part of the current school year.
Cornman said the ban will be enforced on Harrison just like it would for anyone banned from school property for any reason. He said the district will send letters explaining the ban to the person affected and to law enforcement agencies to make them aware of it.
“The same restrictions and rules applying to parents or patrons will be applied,” Cornman said. “Anytime someone banned from campus is seen on campus, law enforcement will be notified to remove the person and it will be at their discretion whether to make an arrest.”
After the meeting, Harrison said the board’s actions have led to a decision of his own.
“I was going to retire from the board in two years when I’m 71, but now I’m going to run again,” he said.
Harrison is a retired carpenter who has served on the school board for eight years in several stints. He was last elected to a three-year term in 2013.