At a highly attended board meeting on Monday, the Sandoval School District 501 Board of Education voted to approve a new 1-year contract for Sandoval Elementary principal Adam Hanks, with four members voting “yes” and three voting “no.”
The “yes” votes came from Emily Heinzmann, Traci Deadmond, Joseph Lyons, and Jered Gambill, while the “no” votes were from Steve Speiser, Angie Hunter, and Theresa Ingles.
The vote was preceded by over an hour of public comment, where Hanks and members of the community spoke about the uncertainty that has surrounded his employment since October of last year. Hanks said that since then, the school board has not been open with him about the renewal of his contract, and prior to this board meeting he had agreed to resign for fear of how being fired would affect his reputation. Hanks claimed that the superintendent and board do not have a good reason to remove him as principal, and that they have not communicated with him openly about his contract until recently.
“The last two years have been a living nightmare for me and my family,” Hanks said. “I’m nowhere better off. Communication, mediation, documentation, evidence, has all been requested and ignored. The superintendent has used the attorney to limit communication and transparency by giving statements of ‘I will not engage’ instead of actually having open dialogue. You cannot run or lead a district through an attorney.”
Sandoval Elementary principal Adam Hanks speaking to the public at the school board meeting. Photo by Austin Williams.
Community members who showed up in support of Hanks gave him a standing ovation at the end of his comments.
Some who spoke in public comment talked about the discussion that has taken place on social media surrounding the school board and the controversy over Hanks’ employment. One speaker was Wade Hunter of Sandoval, who warned against misusing social media.
“Unfortunately, much of what is being shared is fueled by speculation rather than facts,” Hunter said. “Over the past month, the behavior I have witnessed on social media has been disappointing and troubling for our community. I’ve seen statements accusing people of lies, discrediting others, calling our board a joke, insulting our community, and even calls to boycott local businesses. Our children learn from example. If we want them to grow into respectful, accountable adults, we must demonstrate those values ourselves.”
Wade Hunter speaks at the Sandoval School Board meeting on Monday night. Photo by Austin Williams.
Superintendent Matt Dannaman was not present at the meeting due to being hospitalized. His superintendent’s report was read by board member Traci Deadmond. In it, Dannaman expressed concern about conflict and misinformation on social media. He called for the community to come together and continue to work towards making life better for the students and residents of Sandoval.
Following the meeting, Hanks expressed gratitude for the board’s decision and for the community members who showed up in support of him, as well as his appreciation for the staff he works with in the school district.
In other business, the school board approved the 2026-27 school year calendar and appointed Deborah Wuebben as district treasurer for the FY26 school year.
Sandoval community members showing support applaud for principal Adam Hanks. Photo by Austin Williams.
