Tuesday's Internet Edition, September 07, 2010.
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News editor -
Copperas Cove Independent School District Board Trustee Jim Copeland moved to censure James Mickan after the board met in a short executive session on Monday to discuss Mickan’s evaluation, duties or discipline.
In a prepared statement, Copeland said, “I move that the board formally censure the actions of board trustee James Mickan for his actions after the meeting of Feb. 11, 2003.”
The board met in closed session to discuss the move with the district’s attorney. Because of the inclement weather, the consultation was made via conference call.
James Lyons, parent of a Copperas Cove High School student, says he filed a police report for the charge of assault by threat on the board member when Mickan said, after the Feb. 11 school board meeting, that he was going to kill him. Lyons said he was driving off when Mickan ran after his car and yelled a threat. Lieutenant Daniel Austin of the Copperas Cove Police Department said the incident has sparked many false rumors. The investigating officers have found many discrepancies in the accounts of witnesses, said Austin.
During the Feb. 11 school board meeting, members voted to uphold the high school administration’s decision to remove Bianca Mickan from the cheerleading team for violating its constitution.
Bianca was convicted of the misdemeanor charge of “minor in possession” during a Jan. 28 court date in Belton. The charge stems from a June 19, 2001, incident.
After the board’s decision not to reinstate Bianca to the cheerleading team, Lyons was pointing at him and smirking, said Mickan. Mickan gave no comment on whether or not he threatened Lyons.
Lyons’ wife, Dawn, said, “We made no comment or gesture whatsoever.”
Mickan has said he will not resign over the incident, and removing a school board member is not an easy task. A majority of board members may ask another board member to resign, but the member has no obligation to resign, said Dr. Glenn Acker, CCISD superintendent. “The board really has no powers to remove another member,” he said.