Onalaska school board member takes complaint to the DA dealing with district raises

Paraprofessionals were granted a 2.7 percent pay hike

Onalaska school board member Jake Speed has filed a complaint with the district attorney over a conflict of interest on a vote taken at a recent meeting. 

A 2.7-percent raise to paraprofessionals within the Onalaska School District was unanimously voted for by the school board. A vote that included newly appointed board member Tim Smaby, who’s wife will directly benefit from the raise.

Another board member, Jake Speed, noticed the conflict of interest and has brought up the fact that Smaby should have recused himself from the vote.

On the board agenda tonight, calls for Smaby to rescind the item and then have it brought up by another board member with Smaby not voting.

“I didn’t think they’d be stupid enough to actually exercise a conflict of interest,” Speed said. “Especially since (board president) Ann Garrity and I have been having it out about her telling me that I have a conflict of interest. Then they turn around and create this conflict of interest.”

Smaby replaced former board member Alana Havenstrite, who resigned in June. Picking Smaby as a replacement was a poor choice in Speed’s mind.

“They had five people they could have chosen from,” Speed said. “Why would you bring someone in that can’t vote on anything having to do with employee matters, unless it’s specifically not a paraprofessional?

“These are things that we need all the input we can get, and they really brought in a board member who is neutered.”