The future of Whitehall City Schools' Superintendent Sharee Wells' employment is unclear following a reported vote by the district's board of education not to renew her contract past the current school year.
District Spokesperson Imani Fields resigned after telling Columbus news outlets the Whitehall Board of Education voted 3-2 in executive session on Dec. 14 not to renew Wells' contract past this school year. Now the district is refusing to answer questions about Wells' contract.
Assistant Superintendent Brian Seymour has taken over Fields' duties following her resignation. Seymour provided WOSU with a letter Wells wrote to Whitehall City School District staff that said she hopes to remain superintendent and avert the decision the board made.
The letter alluded to a "decision" made by the board but did not say what that decision was.
Wells was named superintendent in 2021 after serving as assistant superintendent for Hilliard City Schools. A news release from the district said she was chosen from a field of 30 candidates.
Seymour called reports the board of education voted not to renew Wells' contract in executive session "wholly inaccurate," but refused to answer further questions that sought to clarify what actually occurred at the meeting.
Seymour said the district has a duty to disclose copies of public records that exist, but it has no duties to provide answers to questions people might ask. Seymour did not say why Fields resigned as district spokesperson.
WOSU did not hear back from Wells before deadline.
