Madison Consolidated School Board members Wednesday night voted to give Superintendent Ginger Studebaker-Bolinger authorization to consult with and hire outside legal counsel on issues regarding social media and other potential litigation.
Before the measure was voted on, board member Rob Kring asked Studebaker-Bolinger if the request had anything to do with content on a local website — Old Madison — where people offer their opinions about local issues.
Studebaker-Bolinger said that the action was in response to many issues. She said some school board members came to her individually voicing concern about the criticism they had read on the website.
She said she advised them of possible courses of action, and at the request of some board members, she contacted Ziemer Stayman Weitzel Shoulders L.L.C, an Evansville law firm about a cease and desist order against the website operator Jeffery Burleson.
The order was issued to Burleson on Dec. 19, 2014.
According to the cease and desist order, posts and comments found on the website were “false, destructive, and defamatory.” The order directed all “inaccurate and defamatory” content in regards to Madison Consolidated School District, the school board, Studebaker-Bolinger, and other staff members to be removed, and future content deemed defamatory to be removed immediately.
Board attorney Mark Wynn said a possible conflict of interest and a lack of expertise in that area of law kept him from handling the issue.
Studebaker-Bolinger said that school policy allowed her to spend up to $25,000 without board approval. Under those guidelines, she hired the Evansville firm to issue the order.
Board member Carl Glesing said the board had a responsibility to dispel mistruths, and needed to help “eliminate bullying and degradation of the district’s employees.”
“What is really stupid about this issue is that they are willing to waste the school funds, taxpayer money on their agenda,” a post from the website’s adminstrator dated Feb. 11 stated. “They are not willing to risk their own money on a frivolous law suit.
“The problem they have if they lose in court not are they only out but they have to pay the defendants attorney fees. And I can tell you that my correspondence with the best attorneys who deal with this issue are willing to come to Madison and their fees will not be cheap.
“So who really loses in “bullyingers” crusade -- the school children and the taxpayers. I do not intend to go down without a fight,” the website administrator’s entry stated.
The board approved the authorization, 4-1, with Kring dissenting.
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