An open, public discussion of what the Palo Alto school board will do next in responding to issues of alleged unfair employee treatment by Superintendent Mary Frances Callan and her senior cabinet will be held at the board's next meeting, Thursday Nov. 2.

At a study session Tuesday night, in which the board discussed middle and high school improvement plans, board member Gail Price called for the item to be placed on the Nov. 2 open-session agenda.

"There is a sense of urgency here. If we keep deferring this and putting it off, the organization's effectiveness and morale suffers," Price said. "It's my clear observation that the community expects us to move forward with an action plan."

Members of the district's management team -- which consists of 48 principals, assistant principals and district office coordinators -- recently raised concerns regarding alleged unfair treatment from Callan and her three-member senior cabinet. The team has expressed issues with trust, preferential treatment and compensation and benefits.

Board members have said they would support hiring a third-party to investigate the team's concerns.

The board decided unanimously to discuss its process, next steps and timeline for dealing with the issues at an already scheduled study session at 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at the district's headquarters, 25 Churchill Ave.

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