FRANKFORT, Ind. (May 15, 2024) – At the conclusion of the Tuesday evening Frankfort School Board meeting – a night where the School Board heard the first reading of a new Civility policy – Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda blocked access to a local media outlet during the customary interview session conducted in the community room across the hallway from the board room.
When Clinton County Today attempted to enter the room, Dr. Rhoda said to journalist Brett Todd, “I don’t have anything to say to you… I don’t have any comments for you.”
Asked why this approach was being taken given the Board had just had the first reading of a district wide Civility Policy – Policy 8521, Dr. Rhoda replied, “I think that you want to portray us in the wrong fashion and I don’t have anything to say to you.”
Clinton County Today asked, “What was the negative portrayal?”
Dr. Rhoda said, “The negative portrayal is painting us in a negative fashion about our whole band situation.”
“The band situation” is in reference to a March 29, 2024 article published by Clinton County Today titled, “Victims’ Mother Questions School and Police Response in FMS Band Teacher Alleged Misconduct.”
The article provided comments made by Dr. Rhoda to Clinton County Today in an interview conducted inside the CSF community room after the March 12th school board meeting as well as comments made to the victims’ mother during a March 8th meeting as recorded by the victims’ mother.
Clinton County Today left the community room upon Dr. Rhoda stating, “I need you to leave. I don’t want you here. I do not want to talk to you and I need you to respect that.”
