Farmington school board will investigate member

Years of simmering tension have boiled over in a vote to investigate Farmington school board member Tim Burke, who has been at odds with other board members and the superintendent since before he was even elected.

On Monday night, the board approved a proposal made by Julie Singewald to hire an outside investigator to determine whether Burke violated the board's code of conduct or, as Singewald put it, "otherwise inappropriately crossed the line."

The move follows an Oct. 11 meeting at which several board members accused Burke of making unnecessary data requests, treating administrators disrespectfully and making unfounded accusations against them. Board member John Kampf said he feared Burke's behavior could create a "hostile work environment" and put the district at risk of a lawsuit from employees.

The investigation is a chance to clear the air, giving the board "a good, clean stepping point to say, 'We have defined what has happened, and we have passed it,'" Singewald said.

"What we're getting at here is an objective third party, not a subjective opinion," said board member Julie McKnight.

Burke argued that the investigation will take time, energy and money, only to reveal what the board already knows: "I may not be the most polite person ever to sit on this school board."

Asked whether Burke is accused of violating any laws, Singewald said, "Not that I'm aware of."

The motion was "extraordinarily vague and open-ended," Burke said. "I'm wondering what 'inappropriate behavior' is and who gets to determine that, and what are the consequences for crossing over those lines." He also asked how much the investigation is likely to cost, how it will be funded and whether he will be compensated for any legal costs he may incur.

Those questions went unanswered during Monday night's meeting. The board briefly discussed, but did not vote on, a suggestion from Walter to specify that costs of the investigation should not exceed $10,000 without further board approval. The idea drew outraged groans from an audience of dozens that, judging from a smattering of spontaneous remarks and applause, largely supported Burke.

The board's attorney will choose the investigator, Walter said.

Though Burke and some observers say he's more conservative than others on the board, all agree there's more to the friction than politics. Burke has been a lightning rod in the school district since 2007, when he organized a vocal campaign to defeat a referendum for $24 million in sports facilities.

Burke and Superintendent Brad Meeks have had a tense relationship ever since, say Burke and many observers, and it did not improve when Burke was elected to the school board in 2008.

Meeks said Monday night that he and other district employees follow up with requests for public data.

"I'm not sure how to react" to Burke's claim, he said.