Exit interviews in closed session clarified

CLINTONVILLE – After communicating with the Clintonville School District’s legal counsel, Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn told the Clintonville Board of Education at a special June 17 meeting that district staff can not have exit interviews with the board in closed session.
Kuhn told the board that the district’s legal counsel said exit interviews with the board in closed session is not allowed in state statute. Closed session is subject to be used for employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any specific public employee
Board member Christopher Hoffmann asked is exit interviews would have to be discussed in open session. Kuhn said that was correct.
When discussing possible items for future discussion later in the meeting, Hoffmann asked where the district stands regarding the board reviewing the resignation letters or exit interview information for “key admin” who have left the district.
Kuhn said he could update the board with exit interview information.

“At the end of the day we’re here to provide oversight to you, it’s your district to run,” Hoffmann said. “But as I keep watching a mass exodus, I want to make sure we’re investing in the staff.”
Kuhn said he does not feel there is a mass exodus of staff leaving the district.
“But I know what’s happening in other districts,” Kuhn said. “… Like for example, I would agree we’ve had people leaving the special ed department. I mean that’s obvious.”
Some of the staff who left the district had multiple months of discussion with them, Kuhn said. He added that they left on good terms.