By John McLoone

The censure of Hastings School Board Director Mike Reis has reportedly been extended.

Reis is contesting the censure and seeking an appeal, he said in an email to Board Chair Brian Davis.

The school board voted 4-2 on Monday, May 1 to pass a resolution of censure against Reis after two nights of extended deliberation. The censure came about after Reis made numerous email requests of other board members and district administration and forwarded email correspondence to the Hastings Journal and KDWA radio. One of the emails he forwarded was marked confidential by the school district’s law firm, though the matter in that email was on board duties, information that is publicly available.

The censure resolution guides how Reis is allowed to communicate with the district. The resolution states, “The

Mike Reis

Brian Davis School Board hereby formally authorizes Superintendent (Bob) McDowell with input from Chair Davis to work with the District’s legal counsel to place appropriate and reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on Mr. Reis’s communications with District Staff. The time, place and manner restrictions will be revisited on a 30day cycle by legal counsel, Superintendent McDowell and Chair Davis.

“Mr. Reis is not to engage in the same or similar conduct as that discussed above. If he does, the School Board reserves the right to impose additional disciplinary action, including but not limited to pursuing his removal from the School Board.”

At the close of the June 22 board meeting, Reis inquired as to the status of his censure, as nearly two months had passed, and he had heard nothing of restrictions being revisited.

“It was supposed to be done at the end of the month, I thought,” Reis said.

Davis responded, “We’ll circle back with you on that one.”

“Do you have a timeframe?” Reis asked. “I don’t want it to be, like, October.”

Davis answered, “We’ll send you back a note within the next week on that.”

Reis received an email from Davis on Monday, June 27, stating that the censure is still in place.

Davis wrote, “I am writing in response to your question, at the board meeting, about receiving communication regarding the time, place and manner restrictions established as part of your censure. The letter you received stated that this situation would be reviewed at the 30day mark and you will be notified if there are any changes. After meeting with the superintendent, who has also spoken with legal counsel, there are no changes to report, and therefore the requirements outlined in the letter will remain in effect.”

Reis emailed back asking why the censure is being continued.

“Please provide reasoning behind the continued improper censure. Nothing was ever discussed with me, and false information was provided to Board members and the District. I will also request a MN Data Practices request on all information relating to the censure from 5/2/22 to today (6/29/22).: He said he was appealing the board resolution. “I am writing to officially appeal the censure that has been improperly placed on me due to you not following Policy 215 and censuring without any previous warnings (which must occur based on Policy 215),” Reis wrote in an email to Davis. “The Board did not vote on the censure restrictions that you have placed on me that prevent me from doing my job and violating my First Amendment right.”

Policy 215, according to the Hastings School District website, guides board member behavior. The policy purpose states, “The purpose of this policy is to assist School Board members in communicating and understanding the reasonable expectations regarding acceptable conduct of individual School Board members. It is the responsibility of the School Board to make reasonable rules and regulations for the governing of School Board member behavior and conduct.”

An email to Davis Monday morning asking what went into the decision making process for keeping the censure in place and on when the Reis censure will be reviewed again was unanswered as of Tuesday afternoon press time.