GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Area School District announced on Saturday it has accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Claude Tiller.
Tiller had been on paid administrative leave after comments he allegedly made on an Atlanta radio show on Feb. 6.
"Today, it is with mixed emotions that I inform you of my decision to step down from the role of Superintendent of the Green Bay Area Public School District," Tiller said in a statement Saturday. "This decision was extremely difficult to make, and comes after considerable deliberation, reflecting on the district's needs, its future direction, and a collaborative consensus with the board regarding what serves the best interest of collective stewardship of the district."
Stephanie Guzman was one of about 50 community members attending Saturday’s school board meeting.
Guzman was upset that after a three-hour closed-door meeting, the board voted to accept Tiller’s resignation.
She said the board has not provided any information about the circumstances surrounding Tiller’s resignation.
“I think that they’ve not been transparent. Not only have they not been transparent, they’ve made sure that this is secretive. I really don’t think they thought that so many people were going to come on a Saturday because they never make board meetings on a Saturday,” Guzman said.
Guzman was not alone. Others shouted at the board members, calling the board’s action a hasty decision.
“I did not understand that there were so many underlying problems with the Green Bay administration. And Superintendent Tiller was actually trying to fix all of that and I was just completely shocked the way they just swept everything under the rug,” Rissel Peguero-Lamot said.
Tiller started with the district in July of last year. He was in Atlanta recruiting teachers for the district.
Following the controversy surrounding his radio interview, the board said that both Tiller and the district agreed this was the best course of action for both parties.
“A lot of people really connected with Dr. Tiller. They knew who he was because he attended so many events in the short time that he was here. But also he had a lens for how to address some of the issues that are addressed that are really impacting our community,” Gratzia Villarroel, a Green Bay parent said.
“It’s very, very difficult. Dr. Tiller has done a lot of great things. I’ve personally connected him with so many people in the Oneida community, hosted meet and greets. I want to keep the good work that he’s done moving and it will continue. It’s very sad and disappointing,” Laura Laitinen-Warren, a school board member, said.
There still are questions about what comments Tiller made during the radio appearance and those could be answered soon.
A recording of the radio interview is expected to be released by the district on Wednesday.
After the meeting, three cultural nonprofits announced they’ve joined forces to create a task force to learn more about issues within the Green Bay Area School District.