Updates

More Resignations Without Transparency

Over a month ago we outlined essential steps in ‘Restoring Balance and Justice,’ aimed at correcting past wrongs and rebuilding community trust. Regrettably, The O’Neal School has chosen not to address many of the critical issues we highlighted while continuing to avoid any admission of wrongdoing.

John Elmore’s resignation was initially seen as a hopeful shift away from a toxic culture. However, this change only scratches the surface of deeper systemic issues. It has recently been announced that James Franklin, the Director of Athletics and Transportation, is stepping down. This decision may be related to his involvement in the ban of a former student from competing on a visiting swim team. Furthermore, Miryah Walters has once again signaled her intent to leave at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year following her role in the mishandling of policies regarding student safety. Whether these departures will occur remains to be seen, but the delay in implementing necessary changes continues to undermine trust in the organization.

While key administrative figures are leaving, the public narrative presented by O’Neal often downplays their resignations with comments such as ‘we wish them well,’ ‘we are grateful for their dedication,’ or ‘we wish them continued success.’ The reality, however, is clear: students and their families have suffered under the inadequate leadership of these administrators. Instead of acknowledging the wrongdoings, the school’s response has been to minimize the events by attempting to conceal the issues through misdirection and secrecy.

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Charting A Path to Move Forward

In a recent development at The O’Neal School, a security issue involving a student making threats has been promptly addressed. The interim Head of School, Brenda Jackson, informed the community that this student would no longer attend O’Neal.  While ensuring student safety is a fundamental expectation, Mrs. Jackson’s decisive leadership in this instance is notable and should be commended for its contrast to the policies and decisions observed under the previous administration.

The feedback from the community about Mrs. Jackson has so far been positive, underscoring her respect within the community and her potential to guide the school through this difficult transition. Her leadership could be instrumental in steering O’Neal back to its foundational principles of character and integrity, qualities that have long defined the school’s legacy.  We sincerely hope she will be successful in accomplishing this goal and are willing to support her and the school in these efforts.

However, before moving forward, O’Neal must openly confront and address its past issues.  The narrative surrounding John Elmore’s resignation and the Board’s subsequent response lacks the transparency and accountability needed to provide closure for the affected families and the community at large.

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The O’Neal School at a Crossroads

Over the weekend The O’Neal School community was alerted to a security concern: a student had made threats, was subsequently identified, placed under police investigation, and barred from campus. Notably, this communication came directly from the Board of Trustees and not from the then-Head of School, John Elmore, marking a departure from the usual routine and setting the stage for more surprising news.

Effective Monday, March 11, 2024, the Board announced a pivotal change to school leadership with John Elmore’s immediate resignation. This resignation came after discussions with the Board and was accepted “without question.” Within hours, a local newspaper article introduced Brenda Jackson as the new Interim Head of School. While Jackson’s history with O’Neal predates Elmore’s tenure, offering a fresh perspective at a critical time, it’s important to note that her position is temporary and the search for a permanent head of school is underway. Her immediate challenge is to lead the school beyond its current issues towards openness and resolution or risk continuing the existing toxic culture.

Amidst the management transition the Board of Trustees’ handling of the Stefanik family’s assault case highlights significant leadership failures. The Board’s communication with the family began with a phone call from Mr. Stefanik to Board Chair Lynda Acker on June 27, 2023, followed by an in-person meeting with executives on July 19, and a comprehensive written complaint submitted on July 26 detailing the administration’s misconduct. Despite these efforts the Board’s August 8 response effectively dismissed the Stefaniks’ concerns paving the way for continued threats and harassment from John Elmore. Further attempts to secure action, including a legal notice to both John Elmore and Lynda Acker on August 21 and a direct written appeal sent to nearly all board members on November 15 were met with total disregard.

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Board Backs John Elmore’s Decision to Keep Miryah Walters

During consultation with the Executive Committee of the Board, John Elmore successfully advocated for the continuation of Miryah Walters as the Assistant Head of School and Head of Middle School, thereby reversing the earlier announcement of her departure. This decision is extremely disappointing as it effectively endorses behaviors and actions that have been widely criticized.

Despite mounting evidence of administrative misconduct, the Board’s continued portrayal of the school’s response to an assault as ‘responsible and appropriate’ grossly misrepresents the gravity of the situation. In fact, the response was not just inadequate—it fell short of meeting the basic standards of care expected in an educational setting. This steadfast support for the current leadership in the face of significant community backlash undermines the Board’s credibility and raises doubts about their ability to govern.

The feedback we’ve received from commenters on our Facebook page paints a deeply concerning view of the culture and policies at The O’Neal School:

• “I went to O’Neal for a LONG time. I BEGGED my folks for YEARS to send me somewhere else… anywhere else! My siblings did the same.”
• “I wish I would have pressed charges on the kid who bullied my son while he was there. It’s the exact reason we pulled him out of the school.”
• “I have heard stories of this school and things like this happening all of the time there. The more money you have the more your kids can get away with.”

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Pursuing Vanity Over Student Safety

In August of 2022, The O’Neal School embarked on a significant rebranding effort focusing many of its resources on the newly constructed pavilion at the heart of Konni’s Courtyard. This architectural masterpiece was intended to symbolize a new era of unity and progress for the school. Details of this undertaking and the events surrounding it have been chronicled in ‘The O’Neal Magazine 2022 | Annual Report 2021-2022.’

“This month, O’Neal launched a new logo displayed throughout the campus and in our materials, including this magazine. The formal logo’s design, based on the beautiful pavilion in Konni’s Courtyard, was created as a community space for students and events, celebrating the School’s first 50 years. The structure at the center of campus unifies the divisions and symbolizes the vision of those who made the School what it is today. The new logo represents O’Neal’s next era and bright future.” – John Elmore

However, April 2023 unveiled a distressing truth when a child was assaulted near the gazebo. Lynda Acker, a key consultant for Konni’s Courtyard design, later revealed that surveillance cameras—a fundamental component of the original design—were omitted due to unresolved technical issues. She also acknowledged that supervision and monitoring in these areas were lacking. This admission highlights a significant oversight: despite having the financial resources, the school failed to implement essential safety measures before unveiling their new spectacle.

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O’Neal Bans Former Student from Competing on Visiting Swim Team

In a move that challenges the principles of fair play in sports, The O’Neal School’s administration banned a visiting student athlete and his family from participating in a swim meet just days after John Elmore responded to the community about the launch of this website.

Last year the Stefanik family faced a distressing series of events when their son was assaulted, unjustly expelled from school, and subsequently barred from participating in the O’Neal Aquatics team, a program notably open to the public. Overcoming these challenges, their son joined a new swim team and after three months of dedicated training his team was invited to a meet at The O’Neal School campus pool.  Eager to showcase his resilience and skill, the former student had been rigorously preparing to compete in multiple relay races and individual events.

However, on the eve of the competition, the student’s family received startling news from their head coach Chrissy Hicks.  Jen Schmitz, the Director of O’Neal Aquatics, had expressed reservations on the phone about the athlete attending the meet. Despite Coach Hicks’ advocacy for her athlete’s right to compete, the school’s decision was unwavering.  In a follow-up email Coach Hicks conveyed the distressing update: not only was the former student barred from competing, but the parents were also prohibited from being on deck effectively excluding the entire family from participating in or supporting their new team.

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