A school district in the middle of a budget crisis is when staff and boardmembers should communicate ‘as much as possible,? says Lake Orion school boardmember Bob Gritzinger. That’s why he and others on the board, like Mary Jo Burchart, say they’re trying to change a district policy that implies just the opposite.
District policies 3112 and 4112 state ‘all official communications from staff members to the Board or its committees shall be submitted through the Superintendent,? and vice versa. It goes on to state, ‘discussions between staff and Board members of personalities or personnel issues or grievances will be considered to be unethical conduct.?
Lake Orion’s Executive Director of Human Resources Margaret Hazlett sent an email Friday, March 19 to staff in an effort to clarify staff concerns about policy 3112 and 4112, stating, ‘Please understand two important points: 1) as an employee this policy does not prohibit you from talking to individual board members at any time, and 2) this policy does not apply to you as a parent and/or community member.?
Her email also said ‘Policy 3112 addresses staff communication to the Board of Education as a whole, not to individual board members.?
But while her email appears to clear up the issue, the district’s policy does not include specific language echoing Hazlett’s statements. According to Hazlett, the lack of clarity prompted her email in the first place, as she was ‘approached by one of our employee groups asking for clarification.?
Two other emails sent by Hazlett last week to staff on the issue did not offer the clarification. Instead, one simply stated, ‘Basically, any communication as a staff’member to the’Board of Education’shall be submitted through the’Superintendent.?
The Review was unable to contact Superintendent Ken Gutman for comment.
Burchart, who serves on the board’s policy, says she plans to bring up a change to the policy at the board’s next meeting.
‘I talk to staff, I enjoy talking to staff and I will continue talking to staff,? she said.
Gritzinger said, ‘It wasn’t until I became aware that we had the policy that I became concerned about it.?
According to Gritzinger, the school board adopted the policy in 2001 as part of a complete policy overhaul.
‘Clearly this is one that needs more attention, revision, clarification and correction. It may very well violate our own whistle blower protection policy and federal law related to it,? he said adding, ‘It may violate constitutional rights as residents, voters and constituents to speak to their elected officials and communication back and forth.?
Gritzinger added he’d approve a procedure that recommends a way for staff to get information to the board, ‘but it cannot be a mandated policy that the only way to talk to the board is through the superintendent.?
Burchart says she doesn’t know of any recent disciplinary action taken for staff violating the policy and is not suggesting changing the policy because of an incident. Gritzinger says he is ‘aware of instances where the policy has been enforced,? but wasn’t able to comment further.
According to a district staff member who wished to remain anonymous, at least three staff were disciplined for violating the policy within the last year.
In one of her emails to staff, Hazlett said, ‘with respect to any disciplinary action for you as a teacher, you have recourse in your contract with respect to the grievance process. There is no specific discipline identified for not following a police.
Of the five school districts surrounding Lake Orion ? Oxford, Rochester, Avondale, Clarkston and Brandon ? only Brandon has the same policy of filtering board-staff communications through the superintendent.
Oxford’s superintendent, Bill Skilling, said he encourages board and staff members to talk.
‘It’s important to have direct communication,? he said.
Avondale’s superintendent, George Heitsch, said he’s ‘never felt we needed [that policy].?
‘I trust our boardmembers,? he said. ‘They’re adults and community members.?
Dave Pruneau, superintendent in Rochester, said, ‘If staff want to call boardmembers, it’s totally up to them. There should be an open channel to bring concerns to the board.?
Pruneau added that staff should, however, bring building issues, like classroom temperature, and similar concerns up through the proper channels in the administration.
Clarkston Superintendent Al Roberts did not return The Review’s phone calls to comment, but no similar policy was found on the district’s Website.