Pass will stay as N/GRV super

Naselle school board members heard comments from a large audience of community members, staff, and students at their meeting on April 20.

Naselle resident Steve Gacke proposed amending the minutes of the March 16 board meeting to reflect comments made by board member Ed Darcher, specifically suggesting that the official minutes reflect Darcher’s disagreement with former board member Steve Sultemeier’s decision to resign from the board after a March 9 workshop.

Sultemeier had presented a written statement to the board giving a lack of public notification about the March 9 meeting and other actions by board chair Hollis Fletcher outside of board policies as his reasons for resignation.

Gacke’s suggestion generated discussion about the level of specific detail required for minutes. Fletcher stated that the purpose of minutes is to reflect motions and major issues being presented in each meeting, not to transcribe every statement.

Gacke, a former board member, read a policy that stated that all meetings should be electronically recorded and stored for a minimum of one year, adding that he has attended many board meetings since August, 2009, and has never seen recording equipment in use.

Interim District Superintendent Rick Pass later said, “In reference to Mr. Gacke's comments, the board is following current policy on meeting minutes. In reference to public notification of the March 9 workshop, our board chair contacted the school district legal counsel about what to do. It was with his guidance that (Fletcher) called for a meeting. Although 24 hour notice was not given, the attorney, board policy, and the board chair agree the meeting could take place and was legal.”

Robert Torppa of Grays River, a former board member, was selected to serve out the remainder of Sultemeier’s term and joined the board for the April 20 meeting.

Many audience members attended the meeting to express their support for Pass’s administration of the district and to encourage him to continue his employment.

Pass had previously announced that June would be his last month working at Naselle and that he intended to become an educational consultant.

Debbie Denny, a Naselle teacher, said Pass was very effective in leading all of the teachers to work as a team for the betterment of the students. Grays River resident Karen Bertroch and other community members recognized Pass’s commitment to school and community.

In contrast, Mitzi Hunter, a teacher at the Naselle Youth Camp School, said she believes Pass does not spend enough time at the Youth Camp and that the communication between the two schools is very poor. As an example, she cited that she was unaware school board members were seeking out superintendent candidates prior to Pass’s hiring.

Deanna Gjovik, board chair in August 2009 at the time of Pass’ hiring, stepped in to explain why Hunter was unaware of the search. Gjovik referenced the fast approaching school year at the time of former superintendent Alan Bennett’s resignation and said that she had felt obliged to do a hasty search for an interim candidate or the responsibilities of the position would fall to her as board chair.

Youth camp school senior Sam Bauer countered Hunter’s point, stating it is only natural that Dr. Pass would spend more time at the main high school building since his office is on that campus.

Pass then presented his reasons for leaving, including several anonymous letters he described as threatening and harassing in tone. He said he believed that if he were to step down, then the negative comments towards the direction of the school and its current leadership would lessen and the school itself would prosper.

Although Pass left the meeting stating he would not continue as superintendent, he subsequently reconsidered his decision.

When contacted April 26, Pass replied “I am staying as superintendent for next year. The board and I had tentatively agreed on a contract for the coming year but I had opted not to sign. After close to 70 people attended the board meeting on April 20, with 15 requesting I reconsider and stay, this display of support and appreciation made me reconsider. After speaking with my wife following the meeting, I happily agreed to come back as superintendent and continue serving the staff, students, and community.”

FYI: Here’s Sultemeier’s letter of resignation

Dear Board Members:

It doesn't matter what the meeting was called (see email below). Without the premise of an emergency meeting, which it wasn't, it was a special meeting of the Board. There was an agenda, and all Board Members were requested to attend. This type of action guides the remaining Board Members outside the boundaries of Board policies and procedures. If this style of leadership continues, it can place all Board Members in harm's way of community criticism and possible civil suit.

This Board Member was told yesterday that ample warning was given about the necessary 24 hour timeline prior to the meeting being scheduled; however, that warning was ignored; this Board Member gave warning prior to the meeting occurring. If a position is taken that no one will care, that position is wrong; that is why the rules are in place.

This is the second time, to this Board Member's knowledge from the information given, where the Board Chair has stepped outside his authority and made a decision detrimental to the Board; the first time was when valuable information was intentionally withheld from three Board Members prior to a Special Board meeting. Information that both the Chair and co-Chair had available to them several days prior to that meeting.

Besides the two issues mentioned above, there were other incidents where the Board Chair has tried to fudge the rules during a special Board meeting. This style of leadership is not wise and very dangerous. And, this Board Member cannot and will not continue to be a part of it.

The remaining Board Members and the community deserve more respect than what is being shown. This Board Member does not believe it is asking too much to follow the rules, policies, and procedures created by the public and the Board as a whole.

Due to the Board Chair's continued disregard to follow all of the rules set in policy, this Board Member feels that the community cannot receive or be heard properly, that this Board Member cannot represent the community as desired by the voters that placed him, and that the liability created by the Board Chair's actions is greater than the desire to remain; therefore, this Board Member has no choice but to make this a formal resignation from the Board effective immediately.

This Board Member requests that his resignation notification be read out loud during the next regular Board meeting so that the community understands why this resignation is submitted. If this is not read out loud during the next regular Board meeting, this Board Member may choose to send his notification to the editors for clarification of his resignation.

Respectfully,

Stephen Sultemeier