DALTON, NE — The room was packed Friday evening as the Leyton school board met for the first time since superintendent Chris Geary was placed on paid administrative leave. 

Although the appointment of an interim superintendent was on the minds of many, no such decision was made. School board president Suzy Ernest said during the meeting choosing an interim superintendent was removed from the agenda Wednesday afternoon. According to school documents, Dana Jeppson was in line to be chosen for the role before it was removed from the meeting's agenda. 

"I had a discussion with Mr. Jeppson that it was not in either parties best interest to continue on that path," Ernest said during the meeting. 

The school board also accepted the resignations of two of its members Friday. Galen Bartling and Anne Rexroth both submitted letters of resignation this week after Geary was placed on paid administrative leave. Both board members that motioned to accept the resignations said they did so with regret. 

"If there were some opinions regarding my decision to put Mr. Geary on paid leave, I wish those conversations could have been had," Ernest said.

The board also selected new legal counsel to represent the district at Friday's meeting. According to Ernest, the previous counsel, Steve Williams of KSB School Law told her this week they recommended hiring a new firm for the school to "get fresh eyes on the issues the school district is facing." Ernest had previously said during the meeting that Williams made a recommendation to place Geary on paid leave after discussing the matter with Ernest. The final decision, however, was Ernest's. 

Ernest also said Williams made the recommendation to not tell any of the other board members of her decision and instead he drafted a letter to the other school board members about the situation. Ernest emailed that letter to the other board members Tuesday morning, the same day Geary was placed on paid leave.

Moving forward, Scottsbluff-based attorney John Selzer of Simmons Olsen lawfirm will represent the district after a vote of the school board Friday. Selzer also represents Bayard Public Schools.

There was no time allotted for public comment during the meeting. Ernest told the public in attendance the decision was made on the advice of the school's legal counsel. She did say there will be a public comment portion during the board's next regularly scheduled meeting on February 8. That did not stop some from voicing their opinions after the meeting, however.  

One attendee told the board they need to have a public comment section before making a decision on an interim superintendent. 

"Basically you're saying you've already fired Mr. Geary," the man said to the board of their search for an interim superintendent. 

Ernest countered by saying that Geary is on paid administrative leave and is currently still employed by Leyton Public Schools. 

Another attendee told Ernest she was "hiding" by not letting the public speak during the meeting. When Ernest insisted she was not hiding, the woman simply replied, "Then let somebody talk." At this point, however, the meeting had already adjourned so no official pubic comment section could be held and the board members left shortly after. 

There will be another special meeting Friday, Jan. 29, at 4:00 p.m. in the library at Leyton High School. The board is tentatively set to discuss the interim superintendent matter further and begin the process of filling the now vacant board seats. 

No reason has been given as to why Geary was placed on paid leave.