District votes to recall Board of Education member Scott Hancock in election
According to election results from the Johnson County Election Office, 89 percent of voters voted to recall Hancock
By Justin Curto
To follow through on her efforts to recall Board of Education member Scott Hancock, former district teacher Karen Wall votes to recall Hancock from the Board at De Soto Methodist Church on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Wall was one of three district residents on a recall committee that gained over 1,000 valid signatures on a petition alleging Hancock violated federal harassment and sexual harassment laws.
August 18, 2015
Update: Monday, Aug. 24 at 12:07 p.m.
The Board of County Canvassers certified the results of the recall election for Board of Education member Scott Hancock. According to the official final results of the Tuesday, Aug. 18, election, 89 percent of voters voted for Hancock’s recall. Hancock will vacate the position on Tuesday, Aug. 25, in accordance with Kansas Legislative Statutes.
Update: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2:45 p.m.
The district posted a statement to its website about district residents voting to recall Board of Education member Scott Hancock. According to the statement, the Board will begin the process of appointing a member to finish Hancock’s term.
According to director of administrative services and community relations Alvie Cater, the estimated cost for the recall election is $10,000-$20,000. The district will be sent an invoice for the election in late August or early September.
Update: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 10:14 a.m.
Board of Education member Scott Hancock defended his past service on the Board after the district voted to recall him on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
“I am proud of my service to the district and my hope is that my [successor] will follow the same path of fiscal responsibility, not be swayed by the typical uninformed vocal masses or current ‘Board Club’, and continue the role I served by asking the difficult financial questions and continue to bring financial accountability to the district,” Hancock said via email. “After all, there is a reason we as a nation spend the most, yet still rank 36th in the world in education.”
Update: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 11:04 p.m.
Former district teacher Karen Wall, one of the members of the recall committee for Board of Education member Scott Hancock, said she believes Hancock’s recall will lead to progress in the district.
“I am so very pleased to have the huge margin of victory in support of our recall petition; I believe it reflects the validity of our stand,” Wall said via email. “I would like to thank those who have worked so hard on this recall effort and thank all of those who believed in what we were doing and supported us with their signatures and their vote … I believe that we can now move on with a positive and creative climate for students, teachers, and administrators.”
Update: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 9:37 p.m.
Board of Education president Angela Handy said the Board will begin a process to appoint someone to complete Board member Scott Hancock’s term following his recall. According to Handy, the Board will communicate details and a timeline of the appointment process to the district.
“As president of the Board of Education, I am committed to doing my part in moving the school district forward,” Handy said via email. “We will focus our effort and energy on serving our students and families as we continue our pursuit of excellence in this great school district.”
Original Story:
The district voted to recall Board of Education member Scott Hancock from his position in a recall election today, according to the Johnson County Election Office.
Hancock did not return multiple requests for comment.
Just under 2,300 voters voted in the election, with 89 percent voting yes and 11 percent voting no on the question, “Shall Scott Hancock be recalled from the office of De Soto School District 232 Position 4?” The election was the result of district residents Anh-Nguyet Nguyen and Julianne Wright and former district teacher Karen Wall gaining over 1,000 valid signatures on a recall petition. The petition alleged Hancock violated federal harassment and sexual harassment laws through his conduct as a Board member.
The election results will be certified by the Board of County Canvassers the morning of Monday, Aug. 24. Once certified, Hancock will vacate his seat on the Board Tuesday, Aug. 25.
After hearing the results, Nguyen said she appreciated the district “doing the right thing.”
I’m just so proud of this district. I’m so proud of them for coming together … I am so proud of them for doing what is right.
— district resident Anh-Nguyet Nguyen
“I’m just so proud of this district,” Nguyen said via phone. “I’m so proud of them for coming together … I am so proud of them for doing what is right.”
This spring’s district election had 2,420 voters — about 120 more than the recall election. Nguyen said she was shocked at the amount of people who voted for the recall.
“I didn’t expect that many to turn out to be quite honest,” Nguyen said. “I’m astounded. I think it says how much this community really cares about our district and I’m so proud of that.”
District resident Lindsey Bolan, who voted in the election, said earlier she thought the recall would be beneficial for the district.
“I think that something needed to happen and change needed to happen,” Bolan said.
Nguyen said she thinks the results show the district wanted change as well.
“I am so proud, so humbled, to have been a part of this community,” Nguyen said. “I think there was a genuine interest from an entire district to push us forward in a positive direction.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
