School Board Makes It Official, Fires Superintendent

By Ashli Sims, News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- The School Board voted 3-2 Thursday night to fire the district's superintendent, Dr. Jim Sisney.  

Dr. Sisney's supporters say they are challenging the board's decision. 

Sisney's termination comes just weeks after the school board voted to suspend him.

The board gave 5 reasons for firing him including being unprofessional and humiliating to staff, paying sick leave to someone who wasn't sick and making false allegations against a district vendor. 

The school board met for about an hour and 45 minutes before coming to its decision.

Sisney's supporters say the school board's actions aren't legitimate and say they will fight the move. 

"We're going to make sure that the board members who are causing this problem are removed from office, either by grand jury, or we're going to vote them out," said Broken Arrow parent Matthew Vermillion. 

Another Broken Arrow man has started a petition calling for the removal of three of the school district's board members. 

The petition claims Shari Wilkins, Sharon Whelpley and Maryanne Flippo neglected their duty and misused district funds. 

A lawyer for one of the three is contesting that grand jury petition in district court. 

And there is a new website targeting the school board.  It's called BA parents versus BABOE, which stands for Broken Arrow Board of Education. 

The site's creator says it provides parents the answers to the questions that he says the school board is refusing to answer.

Related story:

10/17/2008  Dr Jim Sisney-Broken Arrow School Board Timeline