The Edmonds School Board reprimanded Superintendent Nick Brossoit earlier this year for “a serious error in judgment” after he questioned an assistant superintendent about the details of a letter of reference she wrote for Brossoit’s wife, our online news partner The Seattle Times reported Tuesday.

According to The Times, it was the second time in less than five years that the board admonished Brossoit for crossing boundaries with his staff, according to a letter of reprimand that the board wrote to Brossoit in March. In 2010, that letter said, the board gave the superintendent “strong oral direction … to maintain proper boundaries between your personal and professional life.”

“There is no margin for repetition of this type of behavior,” the letter said, “which is why the board has determined a formal written reprimand is in order.”

Despite all that, the board remains united behind the superintendent, said board member Kory DeMun, who was assigned by his colleagues to speak for the board as a whole.

You can read the entire Times story here.