Matthew Karaffa
MARLETTE — The Marlette school board held a special meeting Thursday after placing Superintendent Matthew Karaffa on paid administrative leave on Jan. 13.
Most of the meeting took place in closed session among board members Scott Forbes, Rachel Hager, Shane Hunter, Jill Thomas, Nik Woods and Neal Bishop – recently elected as board president – to discuss allegations with Thrun Law Firm.
Board member Scott Keys was absent.
According to an email sent Jan. 18 from Bishop to Marlette school district staff, the district “received allegations of misconduct” by Karaffa.
“On Friday, Jan. 13, under my authority as board president, and with advice of the district’s attorney, I placed Mr. Karaffa on paid nondisciplinary administrative leave pending an objective third-party investigation into whether the allegations are true,” Bishop wrote.
The Marlette school district includes parts of Sanilac, Tuscola and Lapeer counties.
Several school district parents told The Advertiser that female teachers allege Karaffa treated them poorly and verbally harassed them. The school district hasn’t provided details about the allegations.
The board entered closed session Thursday at 6:02 p.m. and returned at 6:53 p.m., when Hager made a motion to retain Brad Springer from Grand Haven, Michigan’s Scholten Fant Law Firm, to
“perform an objective, independent investigation into allegations raised concerning the superintendent and make findings of fact based on a preponderance of the evidence.”
The motion was approved 6-0.
Karaffa, who began working as Marlette superintendent July 1, 2021, wasn’t at the Thursday board meeting.
Despite being placed on paid leave, “Mr. Karaffa remains the current, working Superintendent of the district,” Bishop’s email stated.
“You may continue to contact Mr. Karaffa and your building principals in regard to district business during the course of your duties.”
Allegations against Karaffa are among recent issues within the district, including a planned student walkout in October 2022 following the resignation of high school teacher Kristen Behnke.
The walkout was thwarted by Marlette school leaders, and switched to an open assembly in the high school gymnasium on Oct. 28 to allow students to voice their opinions.
Karaffa was hired as superintendent following the retirement of former superintendent Sarah Barratt.
Several dozen audience members attended the Thursday school board meeting. In his Jan. 13 email, Bishop urged members of the school community to allow the investigation to run its course.
“Mr. Karaffa, board members, staff, employees, etc. are not to interfere, and are expected to fully cooperate with any investigation that takes place,” Bishop wrote.
“We apologize if this creates any inconvenience or disruption.”
Karaffa formerly worked as principal at Unionville-Sebewaing Area Elementary School in 2016.
