5/21/2025

ASHLAND - After a complaint made against one of its members, the Ashland School Board has received a letter signed by more than 200 people calling for transparency.

The community alleges that Ashland School Board member Kelly Maday has been denied access to a complaint filed against her and an opportunity to defend herself to the board. The open letter was presented as the board discussed the complaint in a closed session at its regular meeting on Monday. The letter stated that the board has set a “troubling” precedent for transparency and fairness, by not allowing Ms. Maday to understand the claims made against her and by withholding the alleged misconduct from the community. The community also has a right to know what evidence justifies the use of public funds for an investigation and what information informed the Board’s decision. After the closed session, Ashland School Board President Jessica Pergolski said no action was taken and would make no comment. Ashland Schools Superintendent Bob Prater said he couldn’t discuss the nature of the complaint. This isn’t the first time Maday has run afoul of the school board, she was censured after comments made in 2024, during a board meeting, which the board alleged violated board policies. Maday was not allowed access to the report that resulted in the censure. According to Ashland resident Kate Ullman, who has an open suit against the district and board for violating the state’s open records law, $24,000 of public money has been spent on investigating the initial complaint against Maday, and says not sharing that information is a violation of the public’s expectation of transparency and open government.