Washington Local Schools to hold special meeting Thursday

Washington Local Schools board members at their Jan. 18 meeting at the Conn-Weissenberger American Legion Post 587 in Toledo.

Washington Local Schools board members will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, a move that comes a week after Michigan State Police confirmed they have reopened a criminal sexual conduct investigation into board member Patrick Hickey.

The board will meet to “consider the investigation of charges or complaints against a public official, to consider discipline against a public official, to consider the resignation of a public official, and to consider limitations upon individual board member’s authority and direction to district administrators,” a meeting notice said.

Board President Tom Ilstrup could not immediately be reached for comment. Board member David Hunter said Tuesday he had just received notice of the special meeting and did not know why it was called.

Other board members, including Mr. Hickey, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Michigan officials last week confirmed they have reopened a criminal sexual conduct case they were looking into in 2016 regarding Mr. Hickey. A 2016 police report shows a woman told an investigator she had sex with Mr. Hickey when she was 14, and he was her coach and teacher at Addison High School in Addison, Mich., more than two decades ago.

Mr. Hickey has denied wrongdoing. 

Thursday’s meeting will take place at the Conn-Weissenberge­r American Legion Post 587 at 2020 W. Alexis Rd. Mr. Hickey is banned from school property, and board members voted to temporarily move their meetings off-campus so that he can attend.