K-M School Board member resigns again

Kasson-Mantorville School Board member Amy Olson, has resigned for a second time, Board Chair Mark Torkelson confirmed in an email Tuesday morning.
“Out of respect for Ms. Olson we thought it would be appropriate to give her an opportunity to provide a statement first,” Torkelson wrote. “Given that it appears she has not done that yet I can confirm that she has resigned her position as a KM School Board member.
On Monday night, the school board was expected to meet, in a special meeting, with the lone agenda item being in relation to a proposed resolution to remove Olson from the school board, according to Superintendent Ted Ihns.
The meeting was abruptly canceled on Monday night, without any explanation. 
“I am writing to formally resign from my position on the Kasson-Mantorville School Board, effective immediately,” Olson wrote in a letter ahead of the Feb. 10 meeting. “After much consideration, I have come to the difficult decision that I need to step down in order to focus on my family and my own well-being.” 
In October, Olson resigned ahead of a closed session meeting scheduled, in which she was planning to defend herself against multiple allegations made against her including one by Ihns. 
Olson won re-election in November, while at the same time, a third-party investigation was launched against Olson, examining the different allegations made against her.
A closed session meeting was held on Jan. 6, “for preliminary consideration of allegations or charges against an individual subject to its authority.” 
The meeting came less than four hours after Superintendent Ted Ihns sent an email to the school board saying he was quitting, after being hired on a 7-0 vote in July, according to an email obtained by the DCI. 
Within an hour of Ihn’s email Olson asked if her resignation would be enough to get him to stay. 
“I can't help but to feel a sense of personal responsibility in the decision and I wonder if you might reconsider your departure if I were to step down from my role on the school board,” Olson wrote in an email obtained by the DCI through a standard public data request. 
A question asked to Torkelson, about how the board position will be replaced, has gone unanswered at the time of publication. 
Ihns did not answer the question of whether or not he will stay, with Olson’s resignation. 
“Not without flaws” 
Olson, in her letter, said “I am not without my flaws and I fully acknowledge that I have made mistakes along the way.”
“I have always strived to take responsibility for my actions and hold myself accountable,” Olson wrote. “I deeply regret any hurt that I may have caused to individuals in our district because of my actions. I have acknowledged those actions and have done everything in my power to rebuild the trust of those that my actions impacted. However, repairing trust takes time and I acknowledge that there is still more work to be done on my part. Unfortunately, it has become clear that others involved in this process have not done the same, and I cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow these actions to negatively affect me and my family.”
 
Private Conversations
 
In her resignation letter, Olson challenged the current board “to move forward and do what’s right for our district.”
“I was disappointed to see that, to date, only two current board members and one past board member have reached out to me directly seeking clarification and understanding on the events that I was involved with in the Fall of 2024,” Olson wrote. “As board members, we are entrusted with a responsibility to serve with integrity and leadership, and part of that responsibility involves considering a full range of perspectives before making decisions that will impact our students, staff, district, and community.”
Olson then explained she is concerned “about the potential implications of not engaging with all viewpoints, as I believe it may hinder your ability to make the most informed and balanced decisions for the future of our district.”
“I urge you to remember the importance of open communication with one another,” Olson wrote. “The lack of communication and the influence of personal agendas in the past created a divide on the board that will take time and effort to heal. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I believe you all can stay committed and stay focused on maintaining those crucial lines of communication as you move forward.”
Replacement Process 
While questions to district officials have gone unanswered about the replacement process, Olson gave a glimpse of discussions, allegedly taking place. 
“Our Board Chair has shared with me that he has a friend who he intends to nominate for my vacant role,” Olson wrote. “While I respect his perspective, I strongly encourage the board to collaborate in evaluating whether this individual is the right fit for the position.”
Torkelson denied the statement made by Olson. 
“The statement that Ms. Olson made is not an accurate one,” Torkelson wrote in an email. “I plan on clarifying that statement by her at the next regular board meeting during our discussion on the process of filling the vacant position.”
It is unclear who, if anyone, is being considered a nominee to replace Olson. 
“It is important that the board begins to make decisions collectively, as a team, rather than individually,” Olson wrote. “You must ensure that any decision made serves the best interests of our district and community.”
 
Public Criticism
 
In her resignation letter, Olson said the decision to quit was made “with a heavy heart, but it is one I feel is necessary for my peace of mind and personal well-being.”
“I have come to the realization that I can no longer allow my family to be publicly criticized for my actions,” Olson wrote. “While I acknowledge the mistakes I have made, I believe that what truly matters is how we choose to move forward from such situations. I want to set an example for my children, demonstrating that accountability and integrity are core values. It is essential for them to see that it is not our mistakes that define us, but how we take responsibility for our actions and make efforts to correct them. I am committed to showing them that growth and learning are a natural part of being human, and that failures can offer valuable lessons if we approach them with humility and a genuine desire to improve.”
An email sent to Olson went unanswered at the time of publication.