A passionate Facebook post by Labette County resident Cami Raschen sparked community debate and renewed scrutiny of the Labette County School Board’s handling of misconduct allegations and past legal controversies.
In her post, Raschen urges voters to seek “change” in the upcoming school board election, citing concerns about transparency and student safety.
Raschen’s post centers on board member Rich Falkstein’s recent vote against terminating a coach and teacher accused of making inappropriate comments about a female student.
A video circulating online reportedly shows Falkenstein explaining his decision, which Raschen described as “supporting Price’s behavior over the reality of the inappropriate words spoken about a female student.”
Raschen wrote,
“Please vote for change for the Labette County school board,” “The board is responsible for the district’s financial situation as well as the top administrators… we need change.”
Cami Raschen
Cami also revisited a previous federal lawsuit involving a soldier employed by the district, who allegedly returned from deployment to find his position reassigned to the same coach now at the center of controversy, identified in her post as Coach Price. Raschen said,
“If Rich is worried about a lawsuit costing the district $30,000-$50,000, maybe he should have fought for the rights of a soldier who returned home from deployment only to find out his job was given to Coach Price,”
Cami Raschen
According to Cami, that legal battle, which stemmed from alleged noncompliance with federal labor protections for deployed service members, cost the district six figures and damaged its reputation.
She accused the board, under Falkenstein’s leadership, of failing to protect the soldier’s rights and later rewarding the coach with higher pay and fewer responsibilities. Raschen wrote,
“Rich served on the board when a Federal Department found our school NON COMPLIANT… and he chose to vote against supporting the soldier’s rights several times which led to a Federal lawsuit,”
Cami Raschen
Raschen’s post went beyond individual decisions, calling out what she described as a long-standing culture of favoritism within the district. She said,
“We all know there is a ‘good ol’ boys club’ that has run deep at Labette County for years that has allowed questionable behavior to be overlooked. We need change,”
Cami Raschen
She argued that allowing the coach to resign rather than face termination “keeps it quiet” and makes it easier for him to work elsewhere. She warned,
“Voting against terminating a coach who made inappropriate comments about a young female student would have also made it easier for him to go to other school districts and possibly do this again,”
Cami Raschen
The Facebook post grabbed mixed reactions from residents. Some strongly supported Cami’s call for new leadership, while others defended Falkenstein’s record. Jeanie Barnett wrote,
Definitely need change they should protect the kids. Teachers and coaches should be held accountable to what they say and do just as the kids are expected to be held accountable for what they say and do. A lot of kids look up to the teachers and coaches!
Jeanie Barnett
Another commenter, Chris Óreiœa, broadened the criticism to include other schools in the district:
It’s not just high school. The elementary school administration needs a mix up. They’re getting away with too much.
Chris Óreiœa
However, others pushed back. Margi Vogt defended Falkenstein and dismissed the post’s allegations as untrue.
False words!! Rich is for our kids!! Adults can be so cruel!! My vote is for Rich!
Margi Vogt
Meanwhile, Larry Sbury referenced the local school board race dynamics with the comment:
SMITH vs BARBER
Lary Sbury
Raschen concluded her post with an explicit endorsement of another candidate, Kris Graves, saying she believes new leadership is essential to restore “integrity” to the district.
“The responsibility of the school board should be to protect our kids. Their decisions should be based on what is in the best interest of our kids… We need change and integrity restored to the district we once loved. We must have change.”
Cami Raschen
