The Albert Lea School Board voted in support of its chairman Monday in response to a request from a board member for his immediate resignation in July.

The vote passed 5-1 and was a rejection of board member Jill Marin’s request for Mark Ciota’s immediate resignation at the July 18 board meeting.

Board members Julie Johnson, Bill Leland, Dave Klatt, Linda Laurie and Ciota voted yes. Marin voted no.

At the meeting July 18, Marin claimed she had been treated unequally, bullied and abused during the first few months of the year, before requesting Ciota’s immediate resignation.

The board’s vote of support Monday took place in a meeting filled with tension and heated exchanges.

In calling for the vote, Laurie cited what she deemed as Ciota’s professionalism and integrity and his placing the needs of students as a top priority.

Marin said she was not aware of the resolution before it was brought before the board, noting her belief it was a sign of double standards and unequal treatment.

“This looks very messy and very inappropriate,” she said.

Ciota directly addressing Marin, said: “I’m not going to resign, because the other members that are up here told me they did not want me to resign.”

Funk directly addressed Ciota, noting Laurie had discussed with him putting the resolution on the agenda.

“I’ve had no board member come to me before a meeting asking to put together a resolution asking for your resignation. Instead, I have board members who do it as part of their reports,” Funk said, in reference to Marin.

He said the board needed to vote on its support of Ciota for the community.