No update on superintendent’s future after meeting
Over 30 people attended the start of an April 3 meeting of the Central School Board. The board met in closed session, but did not share what was discussed or if any decision was reached on the future of superintendent Nick Trenkamp. (Photo by Willis Patenaude)
By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register
The Central School Board held a closed session meeting on April 3, under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i), to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when a closed session is necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Though the meeting was going to be a closed session, over 30 community members were in attendance at the start of the meeting, silently protesting the continued employment of superintendent Nick Trenkamp. The silent protests have been occurring and growing since January, and according to accusations made by former employees on social media, public criticism has been mounting for months, all coming to a head after a recent Facebook post by Trenkamp.
The post contained insensitive language regarding homosexuality and obesity and quickly went viral, ultimately leading to Trenkamp being placed on administrative leave pending further action by the board.
On April 3, shortly after 6 p.m., the board politely advised those in attendance they needed to leave, and the assembled crowd respectfully exited the media center. While some went home, a group of about 15 people remained, huddled in the hallway outside, waiting for the board’s decision.
At around 8:24 p.m., after more than two hours of discussion, the doors to the media center opened, indicating the closed session had ended. Several board members exited the room. After the meeting, Central School Board President Jared Funk briefly spoke with the media, but declined to comment on what was discussed during the meeting because it was a closed session.
When Funk was asked whether the board had reached a decision regarding Trenkamp’s future at Central, he said, “we can’t speak on anything” and that there is no timeline regarding that decision.
“You just watch for when our next board meetings are,” Funk said.
