To the editor: Well before the March 2011 School Board election, Oyster River School District Superintendent Howard Colter's reasons for leaving had accrued and he told the then School Board that he would not seek another contract after his expired in June of 2012. Some of the members of the board Mr. Colter notified were those who had hired him and it was well known by all that Mr. Colter was leaving in a year and the new board would select a new superintendent.
But even though it was well known that it was Mr. Colter's wish to leave, when it was announced that the Board and Mr. Colter had been negotiating for about a month over a buy-out which was reported as "mutually agreeable," speaker after speaker damned the board for acting behind their backs and hiding behind the right to know statute. Viewers left their gardening and sports programs to rush to the Wednesday evening meeting to tell the Board it was "crazy, stupid and irresponsible" to lose Mr. Colter early.
Even though both sides were bound by the confidentiality terms of the negotiated buyout, only the board, and not Mr. Colter, was flagellated for its silence while Mr. Colter was showered with accolades. Even though the board thanked Mr. Colter for his years of service, Mr. Colter thanked only the teachers, parents and students making no attempt to ameliorate the situation.
Maybe we will discover that "mutually agreeable" means Mr. Colter approached the Board for a buyout, a win-win for him. Maybe six out of seven board members thought it better to accept his offer and begin the process of finding a new and enduring superintendent rather than one who has long since announced his disinterest in continuing.
Finally, six out of seven board members elected to run the Oyster River School District $35-plus million educational business voted to buy out the superintendent's contract; they have acted well within their purview in doing so and the community should at least wait to hear all of the facts before so roundly condemning them.
Luci Gardner
Durham
Two points that need to be spoken loudly.
ReplyDeleteFirst, both Rogers & Colter announced their resignations prior to the March election.
Second, there seems to be a viewpoint, especially by those in or connected to employment in district education that the school board is at fault in our district's challenges.
Issues such as poor fiscal audits, bidding processes, and the nasty email scandal in which the superintendent & a former school board member were involved in an attempted ousting of another board member. Neither of these 'scandals' occurred after the March elections.
Those who have not been paying attention, or only reading the recent biased articles of Fosters, would think that ORCSD was a blissful place prior to March elections.
That's jut not true. There is a disproportionate amount of blame being attached to the school board. No accountability for district shortcomings, dirty politics, or unethical behavior.
The members of the school board are elected persons who represent the entire demographic of the 3 towns. Not just the senior class. Not just the select few who appear the most frequently or loudly at school board meetings. Not just those who personally liked the out going members of the school district. They represent the entire demographic of the 3 towns.
Thank you to the board for the enormous time and sacrifice you are expending with very limited positive feedback or visible appreciation. Unfortunately, it has become an environment where individuals, especially those with children in the district or business ties within the community, feel uncomfortable exposing viewpoints that run against the individuals making the largest amount of noise.
Bully tactics are alive and well in adult circles in these 3 towns.
To the poster above -
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input. I would suggest to those supportive of the board to attend meetings, write letters, and offer your feedback when appropriate.
Thanks again!