Oakland Unified school board approves 'voluntary separation agreement' with superintendent

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- There is anger in Oakland as the school board announced that its superintendent is out.

Just eight months after the Oakland Unified School Board signed their superintendent to a contract extension, they are now parting ways.

This decision has been brewing for weeks.

This comes a week after Oakland Unified School Board member and former president, Mike Hutchinson, raised concerns about discussions in closed-door sessions, which puts him at risk of violating the Brown Act.

Hutchinson claims that during a closed-door session during last week's meeting action was taken to begin an immediate search for a new superintendent on July 1 and to begin negotiations for a payout for Johnson-Trammell, effectively forcing her out at the end of June.

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On Wednesday, the board president announced that they reached a "voluntary separation" agreement.

"Today, they also refused to vote to protect the district against a strike, and instead, they voted to protect OEA. The same four directors forcing our superintendent out are colluding with other people, so nobody is gonna come save us y'all," said an outraged Oakland Unified School Board member Mike Hutchinson as this decision was announced just minutes before that by the board president.

"The board took action to approve a voluntary separation agreement with Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammel. Motion by vice president, second by Director Latta, vote in favor four to three," said Board President Jennifer Brouhard during the meeting.

That vote for a "voluntary separation" with the superintendent came on the same night as the district was celebrating getting out of receivership.

"She is being forced out by a school board majority that doesn't know what they're doing," Hutchinson said.

RELATED: OUSD board member may have broken law by exposing alleged attempt to remove superintendent

Hutchinson spoke with ABC7 News on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's meeting.

"My big concern for (Wednesday) night's meeting is the school board majority is going to finish the work that they have started, out of the blue, over the last month, and force our Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, out of office at the end of June," says Hutchinson.

He is also concerned that the board is doing this without a plan in place for a new superintendent.

"And this is really going to leave the district is a difficult situation of trying to replace our long-tenured superintendent in two months," says Hutchison.

Brouhard disagreed with Hutchinson's speculation.

In a statement to ABC7 News, Brouhard wrote: "This wrong information creates chaos and uncertainty for our staff, students, and families. We, both the board and the media, should not be a part of promoting this chaos."

Johnson-Trammel, however, didn't give any reason for the separation in her thank you note sent out Wednesday night.

Student directors say they are confused.

"We're here for answers and clarity, but we're not receiving that. We're receiving more disappointment and confusion," said Student Director Michele Vasquez.

"I know y'all aren't getting any information, because I don't have any information, so," said Student Director Maximus Simmons.

Some parents say people shouldn't jump to conclusions here.

"I feel like this narrative around her being ousted is false, and there is one board member trying to weave that narrative that she's been ousted," said parent J.D. Woloshyn.

Others at the meeting were more than upset.

"I don't understand it, because just a short while ago, you extended her contract, gave her a raise, and then you are gonna go up there and discriminate, and get rid of her? It doesn't make any sense," said a man during public comment.

We did talk with at least one educator here in Oakland who said she still doesn't understand why Johnson-Trammel's salary is in the $400,000 range.

But Brouhard said she wasn't able to talk about the matter before the meeting. We have reached out to her for comment and are waiting to hear back.

Johnson-Trammell's last day with the district will be June 30.

Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.