Myers is accused of condoning boxing and wrestling matches between players in the football locker room, according to court documents. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Former player Mason Mecklenburg sued the district in 2021, alleging he suffered hazing and abuse while part of the Kingfisher football program. After initially rejecting a $1.5 million settlement offer in March 2022, the school board agreed in 2023 to settle the lawsuit for $5 million.

Mecklenburg’s father, Justin, said Wednesday that the family is deeply saddened at the news of the staff cuts.

“Compounding the hurt of innocent people losing their jobs is the fact that it did not have to be this way,” Justin Mecklenburg told Oklahoma Voice. “Had the school board conducted a proper investigation and taken the appropriate action of terminating Jeff Myers back in 2021, the school would not be in the financial position that it is in today.

“Inexplicably, Jeff Myers remains on the school payroll today, even after felony criminal charges of child neglect have been filed, all while many highly qualified and valued teachers and staff have lost their jobs.”

Myers can no longer coach in Kingfisher schools as a condition of the settlement, but he is still employed as a career teacher, a tenured position earned after working in a school district for more than three years. 

The due process protections granted to tenured teachers, who can be fired only for cause, are the reason Myers is still employed, Evans said.

The district paid the first $1.25 million of the settlement by Feb. 13 and agreed to pay the remaining $3.75 million balance in yearly installments, according to court records. 

School districts often cover the added expense of a court judgment through an increase to local residents’ property taxes rather than by cutting staff. But, the Kingfisher County Excise Board rejected a property tax hike.

The excise board, which fixes tax levies and millage rates, approved $14.2 million in property tax revenue for the district this school year, almost $2 million lower than what school administrators had budgeted for.

“This is the first time this has happened, I think, probably ever,” Evans said. “That’s what makes this so unique, and it is unusual.” 

The reduction in force is expected to offset the resulting general fund shortfall, he said. All departing employees will be paid through Dec. 20 and will receive a $2,500 incentive for agreeing to waive due process hearings.

Evans said the reduction in force will have “very little effect on classrooms.”

Wednesday’s school board meeting was brief but emotional. Board Vice President Carly Franks was in tears as she made the motion to accept the resignations.