Veronica O’Brien stood beside Mayor Francis Slay, Jr., SLPS board president Darnetta Clinkscale and other board members and announced she could handle anything that came her way as the replacement for the ousted Rochell Moore.
“Anyone who knows me, can tell you that I’m ready,” she said during a press conference at City Hall on May 17.
Just more than six months later, O’Brien is in the middle of yet another embarrassing board rift that has led to Circuit Judge David L. Dowd’s courtroom.
Dowd is expected to rule either today or Friday whether Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce’s office should have investigated O’Brien’s police complaint following a heated argument with fellow board member Vince Schoemehl on the afternoon of Nov. 12.
Board member Bill Haas, who was not at the meeting in question, pursued the case, alleging that Slay Police Chief Joseph Mokwa and former mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr., all worked to quash a needed investigation for political expediency.
Following O’Brien’s testimony before Dowd on Monday, Schoemehl leveled the serious charge of perjury at her.
“She lied,” Schoemehl said.
In fact, last week, Schoemehl recounted to the American what he says happened during the emergency board meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action against interim superintendent Floyd Crues for approving a series of administrative raises without the board’s approval.
Crues remains on a sudden medical leave, which he requested three days after the volatile board session.
“I never did curse, and I never threatened anyone,” Schoemehl said.
“In fact, the only person to curse was Veronica. The only person to use the f-word was Veronica. She had a total meltdown.”
While appointed by Slay, O’Brien is now quoted in the Post-Dispatch as saying that the mayor might face retribution for his actions in the upcoming mayoral election in spring 2005. In addition to the mayor’s race, three SLPS board seats will be up for grabs.
Haas also says he will challenge Slay for mayor, which Schoemehl says is the driving force behind Haas’ court case.
Schoemehl called the hearing and Haas’ actions “a circus.”
Speaking of mayors, Bosley finds himself in the middle of the controversy, although he says he is only trying to bring the warring factions together for the benefit of the district’s students.
He was asked by Slay to speak with O’Brien the following Saturday at City Hall and try to mediate the contentious situation.
“Personalities have to be put aside. (Board squabbling) has never been this bad,” he said
Bosley said he understands that some board members, activists, parents and teachers could be upset with the way the board and turnaround firm has handled some measures, “but that has nothing to do with improving performance in the district. That’s what is important. I’m just trying to help people realize that.”
Meanwhile, the entire region realizes that the SLPS board has been distracted from its job in recent days.
According to Amy Hilgemann’s testimony on Monday regarding Schoemehl’s alleged behavior during the meeting, he suddenly stood up and lunged across the table with his finger in her face saying, “I’m sick and tired of you.” She said she felt panic and increasingly threatened. Hilgemann said O’Brien then got up from her chair and screamed, “you can’t hit a woman.” She said three police officers came, and one directed questions to Schoemehl.
O’Brien testified that she did not call police. She called family members who then called the police.
“I would try not to take joy in another’s misfortune, and I try not to judge, but three board members can’t be lying about Vince’s behavior. He’s embarrassed the district and the mayor and the city and should step down or be removed,” Haas said.
As for Bosley’s involvement, which was also disclosed during the hearing, Haas said he doesn’t understand why the former mayor would “prostitute himself by letting Mayor Slay use him to beat up some more on assault victim O’Brien.”
