School board meeting was a little strange. At least, we've never had one like it that I've been to before.
For starters, we had a consent agenda this time (never have before). Basically, everything that was on the consent agenda was approved without being discussed.
In the past, anything that needed approval (for me or the other administrators) would be placed on the agenda and then presented verbally so the board members knew what it was and to enable them to ask questions. One of the things I had to present last night was a contract. I'm nearly sure that a contract has to be acted on by itself.
I told DH that all I can do is send it on. I strongly suspect that the district is going to wind up being cited by an auditor in the future, but that's not my problem, I guess.
I suspect that this consent agenda thing is being done by the Supt. to distance the school board from the rest of us. I know that he knows that the board thinks highly of several of us due to having worked with us for several years (just like they don't think very much of a couple that come to mind for the same reason).
Before the meeting even started, I had a principal call me into an office. She was
extremely upset. The woman who had resigned from the library had sent a 4 page letter to the board
explaining her resignation. A couple of the board members made sure the principal saw it before the meeting. I didn't see it, but she told me about several things in it, and it was awful. There were all sorts of wild accusations going back years and years.
She said the reason she missed so much work was because she was fearful for her physical safety (funny, there's a school full of teachers, assts., and students who show no sign of any fear whatsoever). She talked about the principal physically attacking her and leaving bruises all over her (the day that supposedly happened, they were in the office along with witnesses who stated that the principal touched her lightly on the arm while trying to reason with her, and the librarian went berserk).
Just before school was out for Christmas, the principal tried to talk to her about the library (the woman was at work less than 25% of the time - no joke), and the woman went down the hall screaming
very strong obscenities.
The principal was in the process of trying how best to handle it when the woman resigned. The woman has an autistic son and is a single parent, so the principal has always tried to work with her and help her because she felt like she was probably under a lot of stress. No matter what the principal did, it wasn't enough. I also found out last night that this woman has a law degree along with being certified in just about everything you can think of (challenged the Praxis and received certification). Surely, she could make more as a lawyer than as a school librarian.
That letter wound up being taken into executive session, so it wasn't made public knowledge. The examples that I gave were only minor examples of what was in the letter, and it included people from years back (before she even worked for us, so I don't know where she was getting her very twisted information).
One board member did give the Supt. some problems and questioned him pretty heavily concerning his handling of the principals and the fact that the board felt he was excessive in what he was asking for.
At one point after several things had been questioned, he made the comment that he needed for the community to see that the board was supporting and not to have to question that.
He had a couple of verbal supporters in the crowd, but, overall, the crowd was smaller than it's been being, and I don't think everybody was completely happy with him.
They were discussing a retreat and one of the administrators told the board that if they wanted her there, they'd have to work with her schedule because she has children playing in basketball tournaments for the next 3 Saturdays, and she couldn't miss that.
To which one of the school board members replied, "With no disrespect intended, I have two part-time jobs in addition to my full-time job, and if I can make arrangements to be there, I would certainly expect you to do so." (This admin is one of the two that I mentioned before who isn't very popular with the board.
).
Now, I can certainly understand wanting to support your children, but considering our current climate, I don't think I would have made that statement to the board. Surely, her husband (their father) or somebody else could have taken over for one day?
Supt. wants to use the school buses to transport students and parents to one end of the county for everybody to meet together for his "State of the School" address. There is some question concerning legal liability that may affect his plan.
Had one parent interrupt the meeting to protest about the school at the south end of the county and the fact that "all they want to do is fight over the gym". They finally had to stop her (she went on for quite awhile but never made a point) and tell her that she would have to be put on next month's agenda, that she couldn't just talk in the middle of the meeting.
I found out this morning that the admin that I mentioned earlier had put her up to coming to the meeting (I saw them talking together afterwards last night), because their kids are on the basketball team together (not a school team), and they're mad because the principal has said that he doesn't want them using the gym because it's not cleaned up after they use it. That admin also doesn't like that particular principal anyway.
All of the big stuff that was likely to create fireworks was taken into executive session after they dismissed the audience. I don't know for sure yet (pretty sure though), but I don't think the two women (new Business Manager and the Curriculum Coor. from Memphis) were hired. As I've mentioned before, that's going to cause the Supt. some problems because he sent the Bus. Manager to a confernce this week, and you can't pay travel on people who aren't employees. Plus, that woman has quit her other job and is under the impression that she has started work.
I'll update when I know more...(stay tuned for the latest episode of "As the School District Turns".
going to the Charter Schools open house next weekend!
Tomorrow is my birthday; not looking forward to adding another number, but it sure beats the alternative. 
Since I have dial-up at home (very, very unreliable dial-up at that 
I think we're going up to Boulder after work tomorrow to see DD and go out to dinner there. Not sure yet.
Wow!
That made me think about the guy who gave DD problems at the beginning of last semester. I pulled up his MySpace page and found that he's back at the university this semester. I'm guessing that the classes that he failed last spring semester are only offered during the spring semester. If he passes them, he should graduate in May. 
! 
I only snarled once, it actually went fairly smoothly. 
..Shark! 
