WEDDINGTON, N.C. — A school in Union County is facing more upheaval.
Union Day School Executive Director Michael Lindsay handed in his resignation on Wednesday.
As for why, that’s what parents want to know.
The charter school made headlines almost two years ago when the board fired its last head of school, Matthew Hamilton.
Teachers and parents protested outside of the school for days.
Hamilton then filed a lawsuit against the school for the termination.
Hamilton says the case was resolved to his satisfaction about three to four months ago.
Parents who spoke to Spectrum News 1 say the school has had multiple leaders since its founding in 2016.
As for the most recent leader, parents say they loved Lindsay, just as they loved Hamilton.
"Dr. Lindsay was very much visible since he was hired trying to implement new things for the school,” UDS parent Ingrid De la Pena said. "I personally loved his approach to learning and most importantly kids loved him, and in my opinion he made a good impact in very little time."
Parents are calling for stability within the school, as well as more transparency from the board.
On Wednesday, Josh Armstrong, a Union Day School parent, says he received a letter from the board, informing parents of Lindsay’s resignation.
“This tells part of the story, this doesn’t tell the full story,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong and his wife enrolled their three kids at Union Day School this past year.
He said Lindsay is one of the reasons they did.
“We were really excited about the direction he was going to take the school,” he said.
In March, he and another UDS parent, Lindsey Soban, said the board sent a letter stating Lindsay would be working on special projects.
They said that’s when they stopped seeing him on campus as well as at school events.
"They wouldn't talk about what the special projects are or when he was coming back,” Armstrong said. "It's just that he was offsite working on special projects."
Armstrong, Soban and De la Pena question the resignation.
“We believe he was pushed out from the board,” Armstrong said.
“I don’t believe he would have done that on his own,” Soban said.
"I believe the board felt the pressure from parents asking about Dr. Lindsay and other issues about the future direction of the school," De la Pena said.
We reached out to the school about this concern.
UDS sent the letter they sent parents on Wednesday to Spectrum News 1 and confirmed Lindsay’s resignation, but it did not address parents' concerns.
In the letter, UDS says, “we wish him well in his new endeavor."
Soban has three kids in Union Day School.
She says their family’s been a part of the school for the last four years. She says before his resignation that she remembered when Hamilton was fired.
She says it impacted her son.
“Didn't want to go to school anymore because his friends left, his teachers left,” she said.
Soban, Armstrong and De la Pena say they’ve repeatedly asked for more communication.
"Parents pushed for answers, but there’s a lack of trust between parents and the board,” De la Pena said. "I attended my first board meeting last month, and I was met with a board that refuses to respond to concerned parents about multiple issues with the school, including Dr. Lindsay's absence."
"Parents just want transparency, accountability and a board willing to work, side by side with us and staff to implement an excellent learning experience,” she said.
“We want a town hall meeting, we want to be able talk to them,” Armstrong said.
Soban says while frustrated, she still believes in the mission of the school.
"So I still believe in Union Day,” she said. "I believe in what they stand for as long as the board can get out of our way.”
In the letter to parents, UDS confirmed the appointment of the new executive director, Joely Lord, who is a UDS founding member.
“Lord will collaborate closely with our administrative team and the board to implement the vision for our school that is grounded in our core values and mission,” said the board in the letter.
Charter schools are public schools of choice.