'For the chair it's all about power; this board now operates like the wild west'

Karen Stokes prepaes to hand in her resignation letter to the school board, left, and Paul Cormier reading his brief letter of resignation (School board meeting screenshots)

ROCHESTER - Less than two weeks before she was to stand and defend herself over ethics violations alleged by another board member, Karen Stokes announced her resignation during Thursday's school board meeting in council chambers at City Hall.
Another school board member, Paul Cormier, also announced his resignation.
In her final comments to the board, Stokes ripped into board chair Shane Downs over how he had led the board down what she viewed as a dangerous path.
"For the chair it's all about power," she said. "This board now operates like the wild west: no rules, no guardrails."
Stokes also alluded to the rift between former Rochester Schools superintendent Annie Azarloza and Downs over how to address special needs students' disciplinary issues.
"This was never about opposing law enforcement," she said. "This is all about him (Downs) trying to criminalize students."
It should be noted that the school board chair is also a patrol officer with the Rochester Police Department.
Stokes also accused the school board of being sexist and partisan.
"Why are strong women who demand change being forced out?" she said, noting the recent departure of Azarloza. "And why has the board become so political?"
Shortly after Stokes turned in her resignation, Cormier, who is not accused of any ethics infraction, took the floor to announce he was also resigning due to the board's "backstabbing."
"I cannot continue with the personal vedettas, holier than thou attitudes, backstabbing and double talk, which seem to be the norm from the board," he said.
School board member Steven Cusumano, who began the ethics investigation into Stokes and fellow board member Sandy Keans, also read a brief statement regarding why he'd filed the complaint against Stokes.
"Karen was heard speaking negatively in a courthouse hallway and verbally attacking school board and district staff members," he said. "She also posted social media posts that caused threats; that's why we need police at meetings."

A Rochester police officer has been on duty at the last several meetings. The cost has not been officially reported, but one speaker during Thursday's public comment said it was more than $60 an hour.

Now, a Board of Ethics meeting on July 23 will only concern school board member Keans, who is accused of disseminating privileged material to the media.