Lawsuit allegation: Mount Vernon School District ignored safety hazards after repeated warnings

 

The former director of maintenance for the Mount Vernon R-5 School District filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the district today in Lawrence County Circuit Court.

Roger Brown, who worked for the district for 15 years, claimed he was fired after he repeatedly warned district officials of safety hazards in the high school agriculture room and shop, but was ignored.

Brown's concern led him to ask city officials for an inspection, which the district failed, according to the petition. After that, Superintendent Christina West fired Brown.

Before Brown filed his lawsuit, the district attempted to reach a settlement with him that would have prevented him from claiming unemployment, running for school board or ever speaking about what happened to him.

From the petition:

Beginning in early 2023, Brown identified and reported multiple fire-code violations and dangerous conditions located in the high school agriculture room and shop (the "AG/Shop") to the then-superintendent, Scott Cook.

Brown reported that the administration took no action to clean, remediate, or correct the hazards and violations he reported in the AG/Shop.

In April 2023, following a local business fire reportedly caused by large amounts of sawdust and wood flour, Brown emailed District administration and shop teachers a video warning about the dangers of sawdust and wood flour around open flames.

Superintendent Cook responded by chastising Brown for sending the video, while also acknowledging that Brown had made Cook and the District fully aware of the issues in the AG/Shop.

Cook further represented in writing that Fire Chief Brad Delay had inspected the AG/Shop and stated that the room was safe.

Brown then contacted Fire Chief Brad Delay and showed him Cook’s email; the Fire Chief stated that Cook’s representation was false and that the Fire Chief had stated there were safety violations in the AG/Shop.

From 2023 through 2025, Brown continued to report safety issues and violations in the AG/Shop to District administration.

During that period, Brown repeatedly warned that the AG/Shop contained three (3) large open-flame heaters in a room where sawdust and wood flour were present, including in the air, creating a serious ignition and fire hazard.

Brown also reported that dust-collection vents were not being properly cleaned and maintained. Brown further reported that exposed chemicals and rags were located near flammable equipment and that a large step-down transformer was uncovered and exposed.

Despite Brown’s repeated reports, the District took no corrective action to address the reported fire-code violations and dangerous conditions.

In March 2025, Brown requested an inspection and quote from Jameson Heating and Air ("Jameson") regarding the AG/Shop conditions.

Jameson conducted a free inspection and provided a detailed report indicating serious dangers and violations were present, and Brown provided the inspection report and quote to Superintendent Cook.

The District again took no action following receipt of the Jameson inspection report and quote.

Before the start of the 2025–2026 school year, Christina West (pictured) was named superintendent for the upcoming school year.  Brown provided Superintendent West with the previously reported dangers and
violations, including the Jameson inspection report and estimate.

Superintendent West disregarded the information and chastised Brown multiple times for attempting to address the hazards because remediation would cost money, including shouting, “[t]his is why we go around you on everything,’ in front of another maintenance employee, Steve.

In August 2025, in an effort to protect students and staff after years of inaction, Brown contacted the city building inspector, the city administrator, and the mayor to request an inspection of the AG/Shop.

Brown explained to city officials that he had attempted for several years to have District administration correct the violations and dangers without results, and that he therefore sought inspection by city officials with authority to evaluate the conditions.

City officials inspected the facility, documented multiple issues, and stated that if the issues were not corrected, the building might have to be closed.

The inspection results and related information were emailed to Superintendent West.

On or about August 7, 2025, Superintendent West chastised and yelled at Brown for bringing city officials in ‘behind her back.’

Brown told Superintendent West he had brought the safety issues to the District’s attention many times without results; Superintendent West yelled that Brown could not hire consultants, and Brown responded that he did not hire the city officials.

Brown was not provided any written discipline at that time, nor was any write-up presented to him or verbally issued to him as formal discipline on August 7, 2025.

From approximately August 11, 2025 through November 19, 2025, multiple emails were exchanged between the city and Superintendent West regarding the identified issues and Superintendent West’s claims that the issues had been fixed.

During this period, the District made no attempts to correct the violations outlined by the city.

On or about November 24, 2025, Brown was called into Superintendent West’s office for a meeting attended by Superintendent West and high school principal Dr. Prevo.

Superintendent West informed Brown he was being terminated for alleged willful misconduct, disobeying administrative directives, and missing work.

Brown demanded evidence supporting the allegations and stated that, in fifteen (15) years of employment, he had never received a write-up.

Superintendent West then produced a write-up dated August 7, 2025, that included a line stating Brown refused to sign; Brown stated the write-up had never been provided to him and the ‘refused to sign’ notation was false.

Superintendent West asserted Brown was insubordinate and claimed he disobeyed an order not to hire consultants; Brown again stated the City inspectors were not hired.

Superintendent West repeatedly told Brown to be quiet and interrupted him when he attempted to respond.

Superintendent West’s termination letter stated that Brown had never brought the AG/Shop issues to the administration’s attention and that he had missed work multiple times.

The termination letter was false as there is documentation supporting the fact Plaintiff raised concerns about the AG/Shop on multiple occasions.

The termination letter further indicated Brown was suspended and that his termination date would be December 31, 2025.

Brown was escorted out of the building and taken to the maintenance office to collect his belongings, and he was told he was not allowed to return to District property.

Upon arriving at the maintenance office, Brown discovered his computer had already been wiped, including emails and documents.

In December 2025 through January 2026, Brown received a proposed settlement agreement from the District that, if signed, would restrict Brown’s ability to pursue unemployment, would restrict his ability to seek a position on the school board, and would restrict his ability to speak about the District and Superintendent West; Brown refused to sign.

Brown accuses the district of retaliation, says he lost income and career opportunities and claimed the district's attempt to "buy his silence" caused him mental anguish because he needed the money but "was unwilling to be silent regarding potential health and safety violations."

Brown, who is represented by Timothy Alan Ricker of the Hall Ansley firm of Springfield, is asking for "fair and reasonable damages."