She demanded answers on investigation into superintendent with taxpayer money

July 2025 Vote Under Scrutiny

Marion’s criticism centers on the July 14, 2025, school board meeting.

• A publicly posted workshop agenda for that day listed “Attorney Business: none.”
• At the regular meeting that evening, the board voted unanimously to retain the law firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell to assist with “employment law-related matters.”
• The board took a brief motion and vote, with no description of the underlying issue, who was involved, or whether the matter related to misconduct or an investigation.
• Marion argues there was no substantive discussion of the item in open session before the vote.

Marion argues that the level of detail is inadequate when the board authorizes outside counsel regarding serious allegations against top officials.

Complaint Origin and Outside Counsel

In 2025, an anonymous, approximately 74‑page, complaint was sent to the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleging multiple instances of sexual impropriety involving district leadership, including Chambers and subordinate Tracy Lamb.

Marion says:

• The OIG sent the matter to the school board, not the district, and requested an independent investigation.
• Then‑Chair Lamar White forwarded the material to board attorney Jeff McInnis, who also represents the school district — a dual role Marion has previously called a conflict of interest.

Through public records requests, Marion says she obtained a July 11, 2025, letter from Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell to the board that thanked the board for retaining the firm, fully three days before the board voted on the issue. Marion noted that she hasn’t seen any documentation explaining when the consultation became an “independent investigation.”

Chambers: ‘No Findings Against Me’

Superintendent Marcus Chambers responded from the dais. While Marion’s comments focused on the school board action, Chambers chose to address his relationship with Tracey Lamb, the Director of Curriculum for the School District. 

He said:

• The Florida Department of Education asked the Okaloosa School District to look into some of the issues in the complaint. Chambers asked the School Board’s contracted attorney, Jeff McInnis of local law firm Anchors, Smith and Grimsley, to investigate all claims raised in the complaint, whether specifically requested or not.
• The matter was investigated by Rumberger, Kirk, and Caldwell’s investigator, Nicole Seib Smith, who reported that the findings were unfounded.

Chambers also confirmed that Lamb is his fiancée and said he is “not apologetic” about their relationship.

Marion says she was troubled by Chambers’ statement that he directed the scope of the investigation, arguing that someone who is the subject of a complaint should not influence how it is handled.

Sunshine Law and Oversight Concerns

Marion grounds her criticism in Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and Florida Statute 286.011, which guarantee open government and require reasonable notice of public decisions. She contends a vague label like “employment law-related matters” does not provide citizens with “meaningful access” to the decision‑making process when high‑level misconduct allegations are at issue. She asked the board to enter her packet of documentation into the official record and have each board member provide a written explanation of their role in the July, 2025 decision to hire Rumberger-Kirk and why they did not discuss it in an open meeting. Finally, she asked the board to commit to clearer agenda descriptions in the future.