ANDERSON — Amid recent allegations that one of its members swindled people out of thousands of dollars, Anderson Community Schools board members are reluctant to say if Bishop Robert Scott should step down.

ACS vice president Keith Millikan said the news was “disturbing” that Scott, a fellow board member since 2006, owes more than $250,000 as a result of five civil lawsuits and that the church Scott once led, Resurrection Temple, would be auctioned next month to pay off its foreclosed mortgage.

Millikan and other board members said Tuesday they didn’t yet know if Scott’s seat on the board would be discussed at their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

Superintendent Mikella Lowe said the board should not act until Scott’s whereabouts and role in the lawsuits are clarified.

“We’re talking about allegations,” she said.

Scott, 45, is in the middle of a four-year term on the board. He last contacted the school corporation in March, not long enough ago to raise suspicion, Lowe said.

Repeated attempts by The Herald Bulletin to contact Scott have been unsuccessful.

School board member Teddy Bohnenkamp said the board should heed legal advice before it makes a decision about Scott.

“This is something that is heartbreaking,” Bohnenkamp said. “Obviously, it’s not a good situation for the board, but we didn’t have any idea.”

School board president Tobi Jones said she believes Scott does not yet appear to have violated any rules that would end his time on the board, but she and others have heard rumors that Scott has moved away from Anderson.

“He’s been a good board member in the past, and he may show up on Tuesday and say he’s had a rough couple of months and let’s move forward,” Jones said. “I hope that’s where it goes.”

She said any action after that would be due to public outcry.

“I suppose it comes down to what the public and voters expect from their representatives,” she said.

Charles Rubright, the school corporation’s attorney, did not return calls left at his office Tuesday.