NEWS

What happened to Reeds Spring principal's police report?

Claudette Riley
CRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A former Reeds Spring principal grew so uncomfortable with the behavior of her male superintendent that she reportedly filled out an incident report with the Stone County Sheriff's Department.

Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said Jodi Gronvold never submitted an incident report.

Principal Jodi Grunvold alleged that Superintendent Michael Mason lifted a piece of her clothing, sent suggestive texts, offered to bring her wine and repeatedly came to her office in April 2015.

In a copy of the Nov. 29, 2015, report provided anonymously to the News-Leader, Gronvold wrote she was "no longer comfortable" being behind closed doors with Mason.

She added: "I want this report on file in case of further incident and I will possibly be filing charges on later date."

Months later, with the help of an attorney, Gronvold repeated the same allegations of sexual harassment against Mason to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, which investigated and issued a "right to sue" letter. Gronvold later filed a lawsuit in Stone County that alleged sexual harassment and retaliation and named Mason, the board and the district.

Under a settlement reached in late February, the district denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $500,000 and Grunvold was required to resign. The board, around the same time, voted 6-1 to extend Mason's employment contract.

The News-Leader reached out to Stone County officials to find out what steps were taken as a result of Gronvold's allegations and what came of any law enforcement investigation.

Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said "there was no report ever taken."

The sheriff's office, in an April 3 response to a Sunshine Law request from the News-Leader seeking an official copy of Grunvold's report, said that "a search in our reporting systems" for the report "produced no results."

Rader acknowledged he had "a conversation" with Grunvold around the date listed on the copy of the incident report obtained by the News-Leader but alleges she did not want to file a complaint. However, the "reporting deputy" identified on the report is listed as Smith, not Rader, but no first name was given.

Asked why the copy provided to the News-Leader included a case number issued by the Stone County Sheriff's Office, Radar said a case number is generated anytime there is "contact" with a law enforcement officer.

"You have a copy of a blank statement form from the sheriff's (office) that she obtained," Radar said. "We have no idea what's on the form."

If Grunvold obtained a blank copy of the form — and a deputy did not fill out the first page of the report — it is unclear who filled in details about Mason including his birth date, Social Security Number and drivers license number.

Also, the handwriting on the first page of the report obtained by the News-Leader appears to be different than the "statement form" filled out and signed by Grunvold.

"Her original allegations, and that's all they are is allegations, would have been a misdemeanor, if they're true," Rader said.

Rader alleged the questions by the News-Leader and other media outlets suggest the sheriff's office "had a report and we're hiding it." He denied ever receiving the incident report.

"I'm not involved," he said. "I'm a little aggravated they are trying to stir people up and get other people involved."

He added: "I didn't want to be in the middle of it. It has caused a lot of hard feelings."

The News-Leader reached out to Jay Kirksey, Grunvold's attorney, to find out more details about the incident report filled out by his client. He did not deny the existence of the report but said he was not allowed to comment.

The News-Leader asked Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby if he was forwarded an incident report regarding Grunvold's allegations from either the Stone County Sheriff's Office or the Reeds Spring Police Department.

"It was not formally submitted to us to review for charges," he said. "It is not in our system."

Asked if he would expect to see such a report, Selby said "that depends."

"It depends on what investigation would show," he said. "There is a difference between sexual harassment in the workplace and what is a crime. They can be the same. Law enforcement would determine that."

Selby added: "If law enforcement doesn't think it crosses the line, they wouldn't send it to us."

The petition

A petition calling for the ouster of the longtime Reeds Spring Superintendent Michael Mason has received 654 signatures including 426 within the school district boundaries.

The Google document circulating on social media since late March was created after the school board settled a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Mason for $500,000 and required the resignation of the female principal who filed it. About the same time, the board voted to extend Mason's contract through the 2018-19 year.

The petition is expected to be submitted at this week's board meeting. It starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Reeds Spring High School. The meeting is open to the public.