Additional debate regarding the dismissal of a Sashabaw Middle School teacher occurred at the Clarkston School board meeting on June 12. Unlike the previous school board meeting, however, the debate occurred largely between board members.
Trustee Joan Patterson voiced her displeasure with the current system, which instigated a debate with secretary Sheila Hughes.
Three weeks prior, 12-year-old Allie Swanson spoke to the board on behalf of the teacher during public comment. Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts responded to Swanson’s comments by saying details of the matter could not be discussed publicly due to privacy laws.
The matter would not rest however, and students and parents were present at the June 12 meeting to once again protest. The second time, however, the parents were there not only to protest one teachers dismissal, but the process which prevents anyone in the public from having answers.
The debate began when the board was required to vote on personnel changes that included the resignation of the teacher in question.
Patterson, who along with Treasurer Ron Sullivan, approached Swanson after the previous meeting, voiced her disapproval of voting on a list of names without knowing any details.
‘I don’t understand why we have a listing that we’re approving if we’re not looking at the individuals and understanding what they have or haven’t done. Then we shouldn’t even be involved ,? Patterson said.
‘That’s not our goal as a board member, Joan,? Hughes replied. When Patterson tried to continue, Hughes spoke over her, yelling ‘Joan, you’re not listening to me! We hire the superintendent, we set policy and we do the budget, that’s the three main goals of any board of education in Michigan.?
‘I think that… we have a job as elected official to take a look and oversee certain areas… it’s a difference of opinion,? Patterson replied.
‘You need to go back to School Board 101,? Hughes said.
‘It’s the board’s responsibility to approve positions… but we are not, in the current process, a part of the appraisal process,? said Sullivan.
‘The board’s right and job is to set the guidelines and make sure that we know what our guideline are… how we’re evaluating, how we’re granting tenure and I would really like to be more a part of that process,? Patterson said.
Roberts commented that the board has played a major role in the past by establish the guidelines and entrusting individuals in the administration to complete the evaluations.
Dawn Bruderick, the parent who spoke during public comment, said she does not like the current system because it gives the administration unquestionable power.