School Board Votes to Remove Rude

(ABC 6 NEWS) --The Austin School Board is one step closer to removing one of its members. Monday, the board approved a proposal to remove Curt Rude from his elected seat. The decision could make history in the state of Minnesota.

"It's never been done in the state of Minnesota," says Superintendent David Krenz with the Austin Public Schools.

The Austin School Board is closer to making state history by being the first school district to remove one of its own. The board voted 6-1 to remove Curt Rude, with Rude being the only one to oppose. For his peers, it's been a difficult decision to make.

"It's a tough choice, but those individuals stepped back, looked at the law, and made the choice that they felt was best for the district," says Krenz.

Superintendent Krenz says that the decision had nothing to do with Rude's legal troubles; rather, it has to do with the lawsuit Rude filed against the district.

"Cause is the lawsuit that he has brought against the district, which basically in the opinion of the school board association and our attorney, is a conflict of interest," says Krenz.

Rude is not officially off the school board yet. He has been given an opportunity to defend himself to an independent hearing officer.

"I think that's why the board wanted the independent hearing judge, was to make sure we get an unbiased opinion," says Krenz.

The hearing officer will then give their recommendation to the board, who will decide the fate of Rude's school board seat. That hearing will take place on February 16th. The school board will vote on the proposed removal at its meeting March 8th.