Laquinda Harrison, a school psychologist who said she has worked for Liberty for three years, told the governing board during public comment that since August she had completed 16 evaluations and eight transfers and asked whether she would be paid for those services.

"Will I ever get paid for those services?" Harrison asked, adding that she had been called on to support multiple schools and that contracted psychologists were being paid while she had not.

Board member Sarah Zimmerman moved during the personnel portion of the agenda to approve personal action items with an addition: supplemental compensation of $4,700 for (Lee/Laquinda) Harrison. Board members debated whether adding the payment at this meeting would violate state open-meeting rules because Harrison’s claim originated in public comment and was not on the posted agenda. One board member cited the rule that matters raised during the call to the public generally must be placed on the agenda before the board may take legal action.

After discussion and a roll-call vote, the motion to add the $4,700 supplemental payment failed, recorded as 4 nay, 1 aye. President Schmidt said staff would attempt to add the item to the agenda for the board’s special meeting on Nov. 13 if legal counsel agreed it was permissible.

A separate motion later approved the district’s personal action items (4–1) while the specific pay request remained unresolved. Board member Zimmerman said she voted no on the separate approval because she was uncomfortable applying liquidated damages or supplemental payments without seeing the underlying documents; she urged greater transparency from HR and legal when personnel items are brought forward.

What’s next: HR and legal staff were directed to prepare documentation and advise whether the board can legally approve Harrison’s supplemental pay at an upcoming meeting; the board asked staff to expedite placing the item on the agenda if possible.

Attribution: Direct quotes and specifics in this story are drawn from the board’s Nov. 10 meeting transcript and the public comment record.