The Longview School Board has voted to use district funds to pay the legal defense costs for three board members facing recall efforts.

The board voted unanimously last night following a long executive session to cover the legal expenses for President Don Wiitala, Vice President Jennifer Leach and Director Susan Donahue during an upcoming hearing on the recall charges and any appeals.

The recall effort comes following major criticism over the district’s handling of sexual assault allegations involving students at Mark Morris High School. Two basketball players were arrested in February after allegedly assaulting teammates in the locker room, and suspended Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested in May on allegations related to the district’s response.

Since the start of the controversy, community members have heavily criticized the board over its handling of the situation. Last night, the community once again came out in droves to demand that they not use public money for the directors’ legal defense. Former school board candidate Sean Turpin argued they did not even have the legal authority to do so.

Thomas Samuels also spoke during public comment, talking about public trust and how the decision would continue to break that. Samuels also spoke about the recent Longview City Council OPMA lawsuit, in which he was a plaintiff, and how much that cost city taxpayers due to the council making the same decision to have taxpayers foot the bill. Board member Leach had signed onto a letter criticizing that decision at the time as well.

With the vote, the district will pay “reasonable legal fees and costs” to their representative, Foster Garvey PC, with no spending cap or cost estimate included in the board packet.

A Cowlitz County Superior Court judge will determine whether the recall charges are legally sufficient to move forward. That hearing does not determine whether the allegations against the board members are true.