PETITION FOR THE  REMOVAL OF “CODY FISHER”, FROM POSITION AS SUPERINTENDENT

Petition Organizer: ANDREW  CALDWELL (208) 854-9964

To the Glenns Ferry School District Board Members, City of Glenns Ferry, Elmore County &

Who it may Concern. 

 The undersigned of Elmore County, City of Glenns Ferry surrounding areas, and other concerned Idaho citizens  respectfully petition for the removal of “Cody Fisher” from the position of superintendent.

We believe that “Cody Fisher’s” actions have undermined the trust and welfare of our students, staff, and community, as outlined below.

Reasons for Petition of Removal:

According to the Idaho State Legislature and the Idaho State School Board Code of Ethics.

A school board can remove a superintendent for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to. 

misconduct, poor performance, or disagreements on educational policy or district vision. Other factors such as local politics, community pressure, or the superintendent's inability to manage the district effectively.

Reasons for dismissal are listed below:

Based on the petition organizers firsthand interactions and past experiences while a student at GFSD and citizen of Glenns Ferry

Violation of Principle I – Professional Conduct: Cody Fisher has supported misallocating  taxpayer school funds that should have been spread equally between other school wide programs i.e. Band, Music, Art, Chemistry, History, English & Science. This action is Violating Idaho School  Boards Code of Ethics Code § 33-701 and district financial policies ( failing to prioritize equitable student resources.)

For example, Cody Fisher has proven himself to be fiscally irresponsible by allocating $135,000 to be spent on a “batting cage”, while the town of Glenns Ferry has two very well-maintained baseball fields available for team practices. Those funds would have been better allocated to improve the quality of staff, improving the quality of school lunches, provide funding for teacher supplies, i.e. paper and ink for the Journalism class/ School newspaper, Band/ Music equipment & maintenance, Art Supplies, Chemistry supplies etc. 

*Please see School Board Minutes from June 11, 2025.

Other reasons include: 

Consistent, decline of overall student enrollment per percent of the population of Glenn's Ferry and the surrounding areas ("Hammett, king hill)". for the past several years. Multiple parents  who were prior attending  students of the GFSD while  Cody Fisher was principal and superintendent,  decided to pull their children out of or move to other school districts for better educational outcomes for their children due to lack of confidence in the current Leadership they experienced first hand while being attending students years prior. 

Cody Fisher  also vouchered for the hiring of Non-Qualified staff for Special Education in the school year 2023-2024. SPED students need and deserve qualified, certified teachers to meet their educational needs. GFSD's Current Superintendent Cody Fisher’s inability to hire qualified individuals that can meet the students needs has resulted in multiple students being unable to attend, and unable to obtain the proper education guaranteed to them under the Idaho State & Federal Constitution. 

 Violation of Principle II – Educator/Student Relationship: Based on the Petition organizers personal experience with Cody Fisher he has engaged in inappropriate contact, with students/former students such as unwanted physical contact of placing his hand on the lower backs and shoulders of students including but not limited to incidents involving Cody Fisher & (Andrew T Caldwell in his office February 2015) (Andrew T Caldwell at Chamber of Commerce Dinner 2017) who felt his physical contact as “Uncomfortable” “creepy” & "inappropriate" this is a direct violation of  the Idaho's Department of Education's code of ethics (Policy) Idaho Administrative Code r. 08.02.02.076 and governed by Idaho Code § 33-1208 and § 33-1209, which has also compromised the safety and trust of our school community. 

Violation of Principle X – Professionalism: The petition organizers and others personal experiences about Cody Fisher’s interactions with students and former students of the community on multiple occasions Cody has “favored specific groups” over the broader student body's needs. He has failed to uphold equitable and transparent governance throughout his tenure as Superintendent. As well as during his time as a “High School Principal” The petition organizer and many other former students agree with this. 

There are many other areas in which Cody Fisher has been  negligent, please see below:

Poor Performance: if the superintendent is not effectively managing the district's operations, is failing to meet performance goals, or overseeing a decline in student achievement, or declining enrollment, the school board may consider removal.

Disagreements on education policy: The school board is ultimately responsible for setting the educational vision for the district. If the superintendent's leadership style or policy decisions consistently clash with the school boards and communities vision it can lead to a breakdown in their working relationship and ultimately the superintendent's removal. Prioritizing fiscally irresponsible decisions may be a contributing factor to community disapproval. Cody. Fisher has lost the confidence of the local community and a large percentage of parents.

Local Politics and Community Pressure: In some cases, elected school board may have promised to replace the superintendent and failed to do so, community pressure from parents or other stakeholders, as well as community disapproval due to lack of confidence in our school board's leadership can influence a board's decision for a superintendent's removal.  This is where we are now.  It’s time the GFSD Board of Trustees act to remove “Cody Fisher”

Inability to Manage the District Effectively:: Factors such as the superintendent's handling of the pandemic and/or principal/teacher shortages, and/or inadequate school funding can also contribute to a superintendent's removal.

Unprofessionalism & use of intimidation in our community:: A recent incident which violates the ISBA Code of Ethics for School Board Members, points. 1,3,4,5,6, 7,8,9,11, 12,14, 15, & 16.  Note a board meeting  was held on August 13. 2025.  7:30-830am. 

 On August 13 2025, Zone 2 school board member “Nick Blanksma” went into a local business to harass an employee who is not a petition organizer nor a  petition signer. In a futile attempt to get the employer to make the petition organizer be  threatened with their Position of employment over a petition. The board member did this to bully the petition organizer and signers of the petition  in an attempt  to stop their constitutionally protected 1st amendment rights. Members of the school board should NOT use their position in the community to fearmonger and harass the community. The GFSD board has been emailed notice of this petition being started which contained the petition organizers contact information via email prior to this incident. Their failure to check their email promptly or properly maintain their email system is their own negligence. This board member is a prime example of extreme unprofessionalism, immaturity and failure to accept Community complaints/ Criticism.

This incident reflects on the Superintendent's failure to accept our Changing communities values. This  is misconduct on the part of “Cody Fisher” who  represents the Glenns Ferry School School Districts values.  Which are the “ Pilot Way” “Respect Responsibility, Commitment and Integrity”. 

An elected or appointed official attempts to go to an individual's place of work for the sole reason of hearing about community or an individual's disapproval is an attempt to harass and bully the petition organizer which directly violates the school district's own code of ethics “The Pilot Way" and also violates the petition organizers and petition signers 1st amendment rights. This is a proven example of unprofessional conduct and lack of accountability. This action tarnishes the trust & reputation of the GFSD and the school board trustee members ability  to uphold community values. Any attempt to intimidate an individual of the community and or business should never be used by an elected or appointed official in any capacity. 

We the undersigned officially request that the Glenns Ferry Joint School District Board review this petition in its entirety and to promptly take action.  We also request the GFSD to consider adopting a policy to discourage or bar individuals that are removed via public petition from seeking re-election, re-appointment or employment in any Glenns Ferry School District position in the foreseeable future. We request this policy enacted to ensure and rebuild trust In the GFSD and its elected leadership. 

PETITION ORGANIZER

ANDREW  CALDWELL (208) 854-9964

Signature Collection: We, the undersigned, are individuals in the Glenns Ferry Joint School District Elmore County ID , Current & Former students, and other concerned individuals that support the removal of Cody Fisher from his position in the Glenns Ferry School District.