Oak Park School Board Vice President Xondra Clark has stepped down from her post, effective tomorrow, saying the job had become unhealthy for her emotional and physical well-being. Her resignation landed just days after the board accepted Superintendent Angel Abdulahad’s retirement, a move that came in the shadow of a whistleblower lawsuit accusing district leaders of financial mismanagement and retaliation.
Clark cites family and well-being
Clark announced her exit in a Facebook post, saying she planned to prioritize family, finish her education and protect my peace and stressing that her decision should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt, according to Oakland County Times. The outlet reports that Clark served about three and a half years on the board and characterized the move as a personal step rather than a political retreat.
Board President Paige Mattison told trustees at a recent meeting she was "disappointed" Clark chose to leave and urged the remaining members to get back to focusing on students, Oakland County Times reported.
What the whistleblower complaint alleges
Clark’s resignation followed a whistleblower lawsuit filed by the district’s former Executive Director of Business and Finance, Sharrece Farris-Foster. She alleges that Superintendent Abdulahad pushed for improper financial actions, including directing staff to overstate available funds by more than $1 million, seeking a $25,000 increase to a district credit card limit and routing purchases through non-approved vendors such as Best Buy, according to ClickOnDetroit.
The complaint further alleges that Abdulahad attempted an unauthorized payout of roughly $40,000 for accrued leave and that Farris-Foster was suspended and later fired in November after raising concerns, ClickOnDetroit reported.
In a statement to ClickOnDetroit, the district’s attorney dismissed the filing as an attempt to seek publicity and said the allegations are false, inaccurate and grossly exaggerated.
Board response and leadership shuffle
With Clark out, the board moved quickly to reshuffle its leadership at its most recent meeting, elevating trustee Tiffany Scott to vice president. The district’s Board of Education page now lists Scott in the role, according to Oak Park Schools.
Local reporting has linked Clark’s departure to the turmoil surrounding Abdulahad and the whistleblower case and noted that the district has not released any findings from an internal review, according to Oakland County Times. Board leaders have said they want to turn their attention back to students while the legal fight plays out.
Legal context
The whistleblower complaint, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, is a civil case that could launch a discovery process with document requests and depositions that may shed more light on district spending practices and decision-making. For now, district officials are firmly denying the accusations and characterizing the lawsuit as a publicity play, according to ClickOnDetroit.
The case will move through the courts while Oak Park Schools continues daily operations. Community members and staff have said they want transparency and answers as the district navigates this very public controversy.
