Springfield school board chair resigns, citing safety threats, misinformation

Heather Quaas-Annsa, chair of the Springfield Board of Education, has resigned.

Quaas-Annsa, who was chair for three months, said in her resignation letter sent Thursday, Feb. 5 that conditions had become “untenable” and “unsafe.” She is not only stepping down as board chair, she is leaving the board entirely.

“I have experienced escalating threats to my personal safety connected to my service, as well as persistent misinformation and false narratives that have undermined my professional credibility,” Quaas-Annsa stated in the letter.

She said the primary factor in her decision to leave the board was the hostility and threats her children had experienced as a result of her service on the board.

Her decision to resign follows a number of significant events in Springfield Public Schools, including the district’s decision to lay off 27 licensed employees at the end of January, which Quaas-Annsa voted to approve. Additionally Superintendent Todd Hamilton and assistant superintendent David Collins sent a notice to the board in December expressing their intent to sue the district and three board members.

Board members voted Quaas-Annsa to be board chair after Jonathan Light lost the position in early November due to multiple complaints against him. These included district leaders’ objection to his decision to contact the Oregon Department of Education about its investigation into Springfield curriculum without board or district approval and his subsequent leaking of the complaint against him to the public.

In her resignation letter, Quaas-Annsa urged members of the public to de-escalate and to go about civic engagement in constructive ways.

“Showing up, organizing, providing public comment, and advocating for stronger policies and funding at the state and federal levels are legitimate and important democratic actions,” she wrote in her letter of resignation. “Violence, harassment, intimidation, threats, and property damage are not.”

Brian Richardson, communications director for Springfield Public Schools, said the district was thankful for Quaas-Annsa’s service.

“Whether on the Educational Equity Advisory Committee, Budget Committee, or School Board, she showcased care, thoughtfulness, and commitment to her work,” Richardson said in a statement. “We are grateful for the time and energy she dedicated on behalf of students, families, and the community.”

Richardson said a Springfield Board of Education executive session scheduled Thursday, Feb. 5, at 11:30 a.m. to review “confidential attorney-client privileged information” and litigation was canceled due to insufficient information available for the executive session to proceed.