Goodrich- In a move that seemed to surprise even some board members, it was announced at the July 16 Board of Education meeting Superintendent Kimberly Hart is on her way out.
At the beginning of the meeting it was requested ‘administrative leave for the superintendent? be added to the agenda. It was later explained the leave would be effective immediately if approved by the board.
Hart was recently given a one-year extension on her contract by the board following a luke-warm performance evaluation from the board. Shortly there-after, Hart’s name appeared amongst the candidates for superintendent jobs in several other districts.
However, Hart seemed to have been caught off guard by the recent board situation.
‘I was just informed this was to be added to the agenda this afternoon at 2:45 p.m., although (School Board President Michael) Tripp did, in meeting with me last Wednesday, indicate to me that there had been significant discussion among board members with regard to buying out my contract and that there was likely enough votes to support that action,? Hart said at the meeting, reading from a prepared statement.
‘I object to the actions this evening of the Board of Education. I want to know what the specific charges are against me,? said Hart.
Additionally, Hart said she worried there were ‘male-female issues at play here.?
‘An example of this is when the board president, in a public meeting, referred to me as ‘the board hired this young lady to take care of these kinds of things,? instead of as the ‘district superintendent.??
The issue flatlined when board members Linda Jackson, Gary Foltz, Michael Thorp and Tim Zirnhelt voted to table discussion about the administrative leave until a yet-to-be determined special meeting to allow time for community feedback and further discussion. Tripp, Vice-president Jeff Engleman and Trustee James Bertrand dissented. It was agreed, however, that a search for a new superintendent would soon commence.
‘I voted to continue the discussion because I felt that once the item was on the table it would be best to continue to conclusion, whatever that may have been,? said Tripp.
Thorp expressed shock that the issue of placing Hart on administrative leave was added to the evening’s agenda at the last minute, and frustration at what he called ‘inappropriate? actions of the board in regards to the issue.
‘I really didn’t know that this was coming forward,? said Thorp. ?…I continue to think this is inappropriate. I’ve been here (a board member) for 16 years and this is truly a first.?
Thorp said while he has known Hart was on her way out since her review, he said he was completely unaware the board was prepared to take such actions that evening and was upset by what he called the ‘sneak attack? nature of adding the agenda item without prior notice to the community.
The decision as to who should be the superintendent ‘is the most important decision the board of education makes,? said Thorp. ‘In the dead of summer …they add an agenda item to do that? I wish I knew what their agenda really is.?
‘It’s inappropriate for the board, at the last minute, without any public notice, to add an agenda item that is the most important issue the board of education will make a decision about). (The board) won’t do anything in a vacuum… (but) there seems to be some board members who want to do these things very privately. Everything should be in public except for when an employee says they don’t want it to be,? said Thorp.
‘This was a sneak attack. I do understand that we have to replace Mrs. Hart…but that’s not the way we conduct business in Goodrich,? said Thorp.
Tripp said the board has acted appropriately.
‘I do not think the actions were inappropriate,? he said. ‘It has been policy that if it is desired that an item be added to the agenda of a regular meeting that a request can be made at the beginning of the meeting. The board tries not to do this so that the public is aware of all agenda items but it does occasionally occur. Once I was made aware that this might occur, I contacted legal counsel in an effort to assure that the district acted within the scope of the law and contract terms and those answers were not received until Monday morning. I believe that the individuals considered this to be an important item that should not be delayed and handled it the best they could.?