DETROIT — A second school board member from Oxford has resigned in less than a week, prompting questions by parents about why two elected officials would leave at the start of the school year as the district works to recover from the Nov. 30, 2021, high school shooting.
Korey Bailey, the board's treasurer, announced his resignation on Monday from the Oxford Community Schools board of education, effective immediately. Tom Donnelly, the board president, resigned last week.
On Tuesday, Bailey told The Detroit News he was not happy with the direction the board was going during a closed session at its Sept. 9 special meeting to discuss pending litigation about the shooting that killed four students and wounded six students and a teacher. The district is facing multiple federal and state civil suits from victims and survivors of the attack inside Oxford High School.
"It became an issue where I either had to stay true to my integrity or stay on the board. And I chose to depart," said Bailey, 52, declining to go into further detail.
Bailey, who has been on the board for six years, said he raised his concerns during the Sept. 9 closed session and was heard. He declined to explain further what the issues were, citing rules over closed session talks with attorneys.
Bailey said his heart breaks for the families involved in the Nov. 30 attack and he hopes to see integrity and accountability on the board in the future. Asked whether he supported a third-party investigation into the shooting, Bailey said yes, despite advice from district counsel that one was not needed.
"That was the direction we were given by the attorneys, that there is no need for us to do one because everything will come out in the investigation by police," Bailey said. "I feel if we have nothing to hide, there is no reason to not (do) an investigation."
Angry parents have called for board members to resign in the wake of the shooting and have blamed school administrators for not listening to families as they demand answers about what happened that day.
Oxford Community Schools Superintendent Ken Weaver issued a statement Monday thanking Bailey for the years he dedicated to serving students and staff through the challenging of times.
"We truly wish Korey and his family the best," Weaver said.
Parent Lori Bourgeau said both Donnelly and Bailey appeared to be finally listening to families who demanded better school security and accountability from the district over decision-making going forward.
“It felt like things were going to change. They started listening and then they stepped down. I don't understand," Bourgeau said. "It does feel like the board started getting bold and asking things for the community and now they stepped down. When I heard, I was never so confused in my life. I'm unsure how to feel."
Bailey's term was slated to end Dec. 31 and he wasn't running for re-election. Seven candidates are running to fill four school board seats in the Nov. 8 election.
The departure now leaves the district with two board positions to fill. The district has 30 days to appoint a replacement. The school board is accepting letters of intent for individuals interested in applying for the remainder of the term, Weaver said.
Donnelly has declined to explain his resignation. Donnelly, whose term ran through Dec. 31, 2024, came under fire after initially announcing an independent review of Michigan's deadliest school shooting would not be conducted until criminal and civil litigation was over.
A week later, Donnelly announced the district was proceeding with an independent investigation. Donnelly, as the board's leader, also declined three offers for a third-party review from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel of the shooting.
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