UPDATE: Hagerman superintendent’s termination is under negotiation

**UPDATE: James Brown is no longer superintendent of the Hagerman School District. On April 26, 2025 he appeared before the State Professional Standards Commission for the possibility of violation of the Code of Ethics for Professional Educators. After the police investigation, Brown did not have any criminal charges filed against him due to lack of evidence, however he is required to take a boundaries and ethics course.

HAGERMAN, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — On Monday, January 15, the Hagerman Joint School District held another open meeting in regard to the current superintendent, James Brown.

It was reported that back in October of 2023, that Brown was found to be allegedly showering in front of the junior high and high school boys football teams. He was later investigated after a Gooding County Sheriff’s deputy filed an affidavit for indecent exposure.

During Monday night’s committee meeting, the board also proposed and voted on newly updated policies for locker room and shower usages for adult non-students and adult students. The committee agreed that adults who are not students, cannot utilize the showers and must remain fully clothed inside in the locker rooms, but they did add one exception.

“If the superintendent or building principal authorizes use of locker rooms by non-student adults, a sign should be placed on the door of any locker room in use. Notifying anyone in the locker room that an adult is using the locker room,” said Zone 4 Chairman, Bryan Whitmarsh.

According to Chairman Whitmarsh, the policies were immediately set in place, however, they are temporary until a formal policy is set.

Negotiations are also currently underway to terminate Brown. During the meeting, Whitmarsh voted to replace himself with Zone 5 Trustee, Phil Gossi in the negotiations with the school districts lawyers because of a conflict of interest. The estimate for a timeline has not yet been established.

“I wanted to present an amendment to the motions just because “Employee A,” is a friend of mine and to eliminate any unknown or perceived bias. I would like Phil to take the responsibility of Chairman Whitmarsh,” said Whitmarsh.

In the affidavit complaint that was filed on November 8, 2023, it stated that Brown was seen showering naked in the locker room seven times last October. Some of the students stated that they were uncomfortable with the idea of Brown being in the locker room when they were present.

Brown was never formally charged or arrested.

We have reached out to James Brown for comment and are waiting to set up an interview to hear his side of the situation. We will have more information once it becomes available.