TWIN LAKES — Lakewood School teacher’s aide Jan Iselin was unexpectedly fired Wednesday during a special closed session of the Board of Education held during school hours.

The 12:45 p.m. meeting, held in an empty classroom and recorded by a stenographer, had some speculating that Administrator Rebecca Vail’s job was in danger.

Vail exited the meeting while it was still in session to deliver a termination letter to Iselin, a 13-year employee of the district and long-time Randall School Board member. The letter states the termination was effective Wednesday and instructed Iselin to remove her personal property from the building by noon today.

According to the letter, as an at-will employee, it is not required Iselin be provided “with any reason for this decision of the Twin Lakes School District No. 4 Board of Education.” For this reason, School Board president Steve Dunn did not respond to Iselin when she asked him for a reason after the meeting.

The letter states it was the “determination of the School Board that continuation of (Iselin’s) employment would be detrimental to the interests of the School District.”

Iselin taken aback

The action sent a ripple of disbelief through the building as Iselin retrieved boxes to collect her things.

“It surprises me,” Iselin said, adding she had no idea her position was even being discussed. “I didn’t do anything. My reviews have always been good.”

Iselin worked with children removed from regular classrooms for a variety of reasons. Because Lakewood has instituted a hiring freeze, her position will not be filled.

Iselin said this year has been difficult given the atmosphere in the building. A petition is being circulated in the community to recall Dunn, who is spending extra time in the building and some claim is micro-managing the district by circumventing administration.

A recall election petitioner said Wednesday they could have the needed number of signatures to advance the recall effort yet this week.

“It’s just been a horrible year this year,” she said. “I love working with the kids, though, and will miss that.”

No vote taken

Dunn said no vote was taken in the closed session meeting Wednesday, though the letter of termination states the board made both a “decision” and a “determination.”

“A consensus was arrived at,” Dunn said. “We requested Rebecca implement the consensus of the board, and she did.”

Vail, who said she is under a gag order, could only confirm she was asked to type the termination letter Wednesday in preparation for the closed session meeting.

According to the Wisconsin Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Compliance Guide, “a governmental body should vote in open session” in most circumstances. However, it is unclear if coming to a consensus constitutes a vote or if an official vote is needed in this case.

The guide also states members of a governmental body have no right to record a closed meeting unless it arranges for the security of the records to prevent their improper disclosure.

Dunn said Wednesday the stenographer’s records are secured in a safe at the school. Board members can request them from Vail, review them in the building, reseal them and return them to Vail to be returned to the safe.

“We keep them under lock and key,” Dunn said.