NEW: Watertown School District Superintendent shuts down public criticism of nutrition director (Audio)

October 11, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–The decision-making and management style of the Watertown School District’s Director of Nutrition Services has become a point of contention with some school district lunchroom employees, but their complaints were cut short at Monday night’s school board meeting.

Mary Meyer, whose worked 34 years in school nutrition, wanted to speak to the board about concerns she has with her boss–Lakeya Maddox.

But the conversation was quickly shut down by Superintendent Jeff Danielsen…

That’s as far as the conversation went publicly. Meyer told KWAT News following the meeting that she’s had enough of Maddox, and has turned in her resignation, and says other co-workers might do the same.

Danielsen has framed the lunchroom issues within the school district as being the result of a, “food acquisition shortage,” which he says has made it difficult for Maddox to prepare monthly meal plans. Here’s what he told KWAT News after Monday’s meeting…

Danielsen says complaints about Maddox, or any other school district employee for that matter, are personnel matters, and are required to take place in executive session. In other words, behind closed doors, away from the eyes and ears of the public…

Danielsen says the district can work through these issues, but it’ll take some time…

Maddox was hired as Director of Nutrition Services in May, replacing the retiring Scott Wahl. She’s a Maryland native who served as nutrition manager at Sugar Creek Charter School in Charlotte, North Carolina for four years before coming to Watertown.