The Columbus City Schools Board of Education voted Monday night to censure board member Brandon Simmons again and called on him to resign.
The board's vote also aims to restrict Simmons from visiting most school buildings after what they call security concerns Simmons allegedly caused. The vote comes the same day Simmons announced he filed a complaint with the Ohio Auditor's Office alleging the board misused public funds.
Board president Christina Vera was quick to dismiss the idea that the board was retaliating against Simmons.
"This is in no shape or form a retaliation. This is about the safety of our students, our staff. And, you know, I'm really disappointed that we still are here having to deal with this at the end of the day. We're here to serve students," Vera said.
Simmons's complaint included audio recordings of phone calls between him and two other board members. Simmons and board members Jennifer Adair and Tina Pierce were discussing the leak of a document Simmons helped create.
It suggested ways to weaken the Columbus Education Association after the group reacted negatively to a district plan to close some school buildings and dividing people on the issue based on their race.
Up until Monday, the board had maintained no other members helped Simmons craft it. Pierce and Adair indicated themselves and Superintendent Angela Chapman helped give input on it.
Simmons was the only member to vote against the censure vote Monday. Simmons has previously voted in favor of an earlier censure of himself after the document leaked.
Board member Sarah Ingles introduced the resolution.
Under the censure, Ingles said Simmons entered school buildings without making prior arrangements, including following employees or students into the buildings by entering illegally.
Ingles said Simmons can only enter buildings where the school board will be meeting no more than 30 minutes in advance of each meeting. Upon entering, Simmons and other board members will have to be subject to a security search. Simmons will also have a security team assigned to him.
Ingles said all board members have now had their access cards deactivated because of Simmons' actions.
Ingles said if Simmons is on district property otherwise without written permission from the superintendent Angela Chapman, he could be charged with trespassing by law enforcement.
The censure also restricts Simmons from contacting anyone in the district besides Vera and Pierce, who is the board's vice president. Simmons can only communicate with the two through email.
Simmons abruptly left after the vote.
No board member took additional questions after the meeting.
