The following statement was released by South Lane School Board Chair Sherry Duerst-Higgins to staff and SLSD families. 

Dear South Lane School District Staff, Families, and Community Members,

A formal written complaint was filed recently regarding our superintendent. The South Lane School District Board of Directors wants you to know that we are taking this issue seriously and are working in the best interest of students, families and staff. Our goal is to be as transparent as laws and policies allow, and do what is best for the district and community. We are following board policies in seeing the complaint through. The superintendent is cooperating with all aspects of the complaint process. We are in the process of hiring an outside impartial party that will oversee the written complaint. Please be aware that due to confidentiality laws the board is limited in what we can publicly share. It is the board’s intent, at the investigation’s conclusion, to disclose as much as is legally allowed. Throughout this process our top priority will continue to be the students and staff of the South Lane School District.

Thank you,

Sherry Duerst-Higgins,

Board Chair, South Lane School District