Dist. 135 Supt. DJ Skogsberg Resigns Amid Public, Legal Pressures

The resignation of Orland School District 135 Superintendent Dr. DJ Skogsberg was unanimously accepted by the School Board during the closed session of the Monday board meeting, effective June 30. He remains on leave for unknown reasons.

Following controversial cuts to fight a $2.1 million budget deficit and an ongoing sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, Board President Dr. Laura Berry announced on March 13 Skogsberg’s “unexpected” leave which would last an “undetermined” duration. There have been calls for his and other officials’ resignations in recent board meetings during the public comment sections.

When the Board adjourned from the public into closed session – a private meeting where they discuss employment, student discipline, and other confidential matters – an unusual number of community members remained in the Jerling Junior High gymnasium awaiting the Board’s return, expecting an update on the status of Skogsberg’s employment with the District. After one hour, the board returned to report on closed session action, but no further details of his resignation were provided. Skogsberg will remain on leave and continue to receive his $188,000 salary until the end of the school year. Assistant Superintendent John Bryk will continue to act as Interim Superintendent while the Board searches for a permanent replacement.

This is not the first time Skogsberg has left the district. After departing District 135 as Assistant Director of Curriculum in 2012 to become Superintendent of Taft School District 90, a single building district, Skogsberg was appointed Superintendent with no application process in 2016 by Board President and his former boss Dr. Laura Berry. In a rare deviation from standards for the hiring of the highest paid and ranking staff member in the district, Dr. Berry defended the steadfast appointment against public concern over a non-transparent appointment stating that the Board “knew what they wanted” and opted to avoid the lengthy and expensive search involved with a standard open application process.

Shortly after his return to the district, Jerling Junior High teacher Heather Conrad filed a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit in 2017 claiming that Skogsberg made unwanted romantic advances towards her and as a result of her denial, she was not promoted to an open principal position within the district despite her expressed interest in the position to him. After settlement negotiations failed last summer, the lawsuit is currently in court. The District has denied her allegations.

Additional action at the Monday board meeting included the vote to issue $10 million in bonds to pay down debt and increase working capital. During the earlier Committee of the Whole meeting, discussion continued on the formation of advisory committees with applications expected to be posted in the coming weeks. The date of June 24 was announced as the training day for the eventual committee members.

The School Board and District Office have fallen under close watch from the community following the February 11 vote to cut over $1 million from the budget which included the elimination of many honors and enrichment programs that would have directly impacted many students, parents claimed. In response to public outrage, the Board called a special meeting on February 25 and voted unanimously to rescind the cuts and go back to the drawing board to attempt to balance the budget. Further discussions have so far proven unsuccessful, with Monday's meeting being the last chance to make staff cuts due to contractual deadlines which will expire before the next meeting.