Cherry Creek Schools has placed chief human resources officer Brenda Smith on leave, a decision that comes a week after her husband, former Superintendent Christopher Smith, resigned.
The Cherry Creek Board of Education was holding a closed meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss Christopher Smith’s employment, retirement and contract, as well as district policies related to conflicts of interest, according to the agenda.
Board President Anne Egan stated before the meeting that both the district and Christopher Smith have “obtained legal counsel,” but she did not specify the reason.
The district placed Brenda Smith on administrative leave Monday, Cherry Creek senior counsel Sonja McKenzie said before Tuesday morning’s school board meeting. She did not say why and declined to comment further, citing personnel matters.
Denver7 reported earlier this month that Cherry Creek employees alleged the former superintendent’s marriage to Brenda Smith affected the work culture at the district.
Christopher and Brenda Smith were married before either began working at Cherry Creek Schools. Brenda Smith was hired in 2019, two years before her husband was named superintendent.
After Christopher Smith was hired to lead the district, Brenda Smith began reporting to Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Perry — who is now serving as interim superintendent — to comply with the district’s staff conduct policy, which says employees may not engage in a direct or indirect supervisory relationship with an immediate family member, according to a 2022 district memo.
The school board is also expected to meet Friday morning to discuss the next steps for replacing the superintendent, as well as to review the district’s policies on contract review and travel.
Cherry Creek Schools is the fourth-largest K-12 system in the state, with 51,844 students, according to state data.
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