UPPER LAKE — A regular meeting of the Upper Lake Union Elementary School District (ULUESD) Board of Trustees Wednesday night became tense after parents raised their concerns for the future of the district.
More than 40 people attended the meeting inside the Upper Lake Elementary School Library. Parents addressed the board during public hearing regarding recent upheavals at Upper Lake Middle School (ULMS).
Parent Delia Uribe said two teachers at ULMS have recently resigned, one in October and one this month. Uribe said the issue was brought up at the last ULUESD board meeting and the matter was disregarded. She said that was unacceptable.
“We want an answer,” she said.
Board of Trustees President Don Meri said the board would not respond but appreciated the concern.
Uribe said the parents want answers because the matter is about their children”s educational needs and that the parents were there to remind the board members they work for the community and not the administration.
Superintendent/Principal Kurt Herndon said the board cannot respond to anything not on the agenda. Board member Walt Christensen said the board could put it on a future agenda. Uribe asked why the board could not respond right then.
“We won”t be going away,” she said. “Stand up and act.”
Meri offered a suggestion of going into closed session meetings, with a required 24-hour advanced notice, with those in administration with whom the parents are concerned. He said the board was not trying to put parental concerns aside. He said they were trying to follow through on the concerns and follow appropriate regulations.
Another parent spoke before the board. She said if it would take 20 closed session meetings to get the answers they were looking for the parents were willing to do so for their children.
A few other parents spoke and said they are getting more involved now and are communicating regularly to stay informed. One parent said it would be easy for parents to move their children to another school district but said none of them want to do so.
During the portion of the meeting reserved for principal”s updates, ULMS Principal Tony Loumena said the rumor of a third teacher at the school resigning was false.
Loumena said ULMS teachers are sad for those teachers who have left but are happy and excited to move forward. He said the school has hired two new teachers, one for physical education and one for history. Loumena said the school is working hard to improve and hoped things would be different in the future.
Another concern the parents raised about the future of the district was regarding the retirement of Superintendent/Principal Herndon. District Secretary Carol Reese said Herndon submitted his retirement on Nov. 9, which will be effective July 1. Herndon began as superintendent/principal in August 2001.
Parents said they supported the involvement of teachers in the process of hiring a new superintendent/principal. One parent said they care about the teachers” input because they”re with their children every day so teachers come first to the parents. Parents also wanted to know about the hiring process for the job.
One parent said a new superintendent/principal could possibly relieve the board of some of the problems and pressures it has faced. The board did not say if teachers would be involved in the search.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
