As last year’s school board election approached, then-Willow Run Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson was matter-of-fact about her long-term employment prospects with the district.

"If I'm the person they want, that's fine. If not, that's fine,” she told a reporter.

Ten months later, she’s been moved to a different position - and possibly relieved of her duties altogether.

Parents, staff members and community members in the struggling district are abuzz about Hope-Jackson’s future. But school board members and administrators remain tight-lipped about Hope-Jackson’s status and future there.

The school board will next meet on Thursday.

Hope-Jackson has two years left on her contract, which calls for an annual salary of $122,400. The contract also stipulates that amount will be paid if the board fires her without cause.

Acting Superintendent Laura Lisiscki declined to comment on the rumors swirling throughout the district, saying it is a personnel matter. Other officials declined comment or referred questions to Lisiscki.

Hope-Jackson and her attorney couldn’t be reached for comment in recent days.

AnnArbor.com has filed a Freedom of Information Act Request seeking any documentation concerning Hope-Jackson’s status with the district.

However, a review of e-mails and meeting minutes obtained under a separate FOIA request shows a growing discord between Hope-Jackson and the board, culminating her transfer from superintendent to a position as director of data and assessment following her six-week absence due to a car crash.

A polarizing figure

Once hailed by the school board, Hope-Jackson quickly became a polarizing superintendent.

Her critics blasted her as harsh, uncaring and accused her of destroying the district, which is currently operating under a state-mandated plan to get rid of a nearly $3 million budget deficit. The district has also been plagued by falling enrollment, low graduation rates and low test scores.

Former Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson

But her supporters pointed out many of those situations existed before Hope-Jackson was hired. They say she was unfairly targeted because she was an outsider shaking up the way the district traditionally did business.

That divisiveness came to a head during last year’s school board election. Incumbent board President Claudette Braxton, a Hope-Jackson supporter, decided not to run. Long-time board member Andy Blakita, also a Hope-Jackson supporter, was defeated in the election.

Elected in their place were Joi Jenson, one of Hope-Jackson’s loudest critics, and Anglesia Brown, who expressed reservations about Hope-Jackson.

The shuffle also included the election of Sheri Washington as board president. Hope-Jackson and Washington have had a contentious relationship for the past several years.

And that continued once Washington ran the board, e-mails obtained by AnnArbor.com through Freedom of Information requests show.

For example, an e-mail exchange between the two over teacher union issues quickly turned nasty. Hope-Jackson e-mailed her side of the story the board on Sept. 1 at 1:42 p.m.

“Ms. Washington became irate. Yelling at me as though she were my parent…When asked if she thought the manner in which she was addressing me was appropriate, she stated, ‘This is the tone that you’re going to get anytime I feel disrespected.’ No one had disrespected her. Her behavior was out of control and unwarranted.

“There is no board policy that requires a standing meeting between the board president and the superintendent. This was a courtesy that I extended in order for us to develop protocol for working together.

“Our first meeting was decent though I was told that ‘the board’ didn’t want me here (harassment). During the second session, I asked and she named the board members on whose behalf she was speaking and she stated that she could speak on behalf of the majority.

“I was calm throughout the ordeal, but have strong reservations about meeting with anyone who is friendly on Saturday and out of control to this magnitude.”

It took Washington less than 90 minutes to respond.

“Dr. Jackson, I detest your persistent misquotes and blatant lies regarding comments that I have made. Your divisive deeds stop today.

“… Furthermore, it is unfortunate that you state that you meet with me, the president of the school board, out of courtesy, rather than duty.”

Hope-Jackson fired back at 7:45 p.m.

“You are the ony (sic) one who behaved unprofessionally and there was no insubordination. Whereas, you were out of control and shouting, I spoke almost in a whisper. It is now apparent to me that you are trying to be as abusive as possible to have cause to claim that I am insubordinate; thereby establishing grounds for dismissal for cause. This too is harassment.

“I stated what happened and you have once again, waged verbal assault against me.”

A leave of absence

The next turning point came in mid-October.

On Monday, Oct. 19, Hope-Jackson e-mailed Rachel Plumley, her administrative assistant, and other members of her administrative team at 8:56 a.m. She relayed she had been in a serious car accident and would be out of the office for at least two weeks. She also asked Plumley to notify the board, which Plumley did.

Board President Sheri Washington

Later that day, Washington sent Hope-Jackson an e-mail expressing concern and asking for a phone call. Washington said she never heard back, other than from Plumley, when she asked for updates.

Over the next several weeks, Hope-Jackson answered occasional e-mails from Plumley.

The board appointed Lisiscki, an elementary school principal, as the acting superintendent at the start of November.

On Nov. 30, Hope-Jackson returned to work.

“I am in the office today with full documentation of my car accident and the return to work letter from the doctor which I will share with you,” she sent to the board at 10:28 a.m.

The board scheduled a meeting for Dec. 3 to discuss it.

“You received a letter yesterday requesting your participation in a meeting with the Board of Education scheduled today,” Washington e-mailed Hope-Jackson at 12:31 p.m. on Dec. 3. “Delivery was confirmed by Ms. Plumley. You have yet to reply back with a meeting preference: open or closed session. Your response was requested immediately, as indicated in the letter. To date, no response has been given by you regarding your meeting preference. Please let the board know how you would like the meeting to be conducted as soon as possible. If you choose not to respond, then the meeting defaults to open session.”

That meeting began at 5:45 p.m. that day, according to meeting minutes.

It started with a review of Hope-Jackson’s performance as a superintendent. Meeting minutes show that review was critical of Hope-Jackson.

Hope-Jackson was given an opportunity to respond to the charges, which included failing to attend meetings or engage parents. It also noted the declining graduation rate and problems with the district’s image.

In her rebuttal, Hope-Jackson said the charges were untrue. “For two years Ms. Washington has led the charge battering Dr. Hope-Jackson and the district in the press and media,” the minutes of her response read. “Instead, those results and this evening leads Dr. Hope-Jackson to the conclusion that it is not about furthering the state of the district, but about 2-1/2 years of anger and vengeance on behalf of certain board members.”

AnnArbor.com sent a FOIA request seeking Hope-Jackson’s personnel file, but no review of her performance was included in the packet - despite notations in board meeting minutes that reviews took place.

After each board member expressed concerns with various portions of Hope-Jackson’s performance, they zeroed in on her absence, saying she should have contacted any board member directly instead of Plumley.

“Ms. Jenson and Ms. Stewart both replied that Dr. Hope-Jackson does not report to Ms. Plumley; that there is an employee/boss relationship between Dr. Hope-Jackson and the board president. They should have contacted the board president personally,” the minutes state.

Hope-Jackson’s attorney asked whether she was still the superintendent. Washington said yes.

But the board acted in a separate meeting that evening, transferring Hope-Jackson to her new position.

Washington sent Jackson an e-mail later that evening, after the board meeting.

“This email is to inform you that the Board of Education voted to approve your reassignment to a new position this evening….

“…While the reassignment is immediate, the Personnel Committee and Acting Superintendent will help you transition. It is vital that we continue to work to move the district in a new direction…”

Hope-Jackson replied the next Monday with one word.

“Thanks.”

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.