Mayer clarifies

Posted

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, The Leader published an article about the Chimacum School Board race for Dist. 3. In doing so, the author misrepresented my answer to the question about the board and unions’ no-confidence votes in Superintendent Thompson. I’d like to clarify. The Leader printed that I “objected to being asked” about the vote – which could not be further from the truth. My full answer to the question (previously printed) did include me saying I was uncomfortable with the question and I went on to say “I have only my own experience and other people’s stories to influence me. What I see is a need for strong leadership and decisive decision making. It is not my place to judge the board or the teachers’ union for their actions. I do not have all the details or evidence they have. The question I am left with is – how did the board and the teachers’ union get to the place where they exercised their option to call a vote of no confidence and what can we learn from that?”

A vote of no confidence is often used to signal to decision makers that something is wrong and to implore them to action. Since it is non-binding, it can be ignored, too. What I see is a lack of leadership and the need for decisive decision making that advances some of the issues that are at the forefront such as enrollment decline, school climate and culture, lower than desired academic achievement and diminished revenues. Parents and staff are asking for leadership top-to-bottom, support for all students and teachers to fill the gap between the resources currently available and the support students need to succeed.

The new Chimacum Board, along with the school community, will have the opportunity to examine and take action on all of these issues to kick-start the process of demonstrating we can and will provide positive direction to the Chimacum Schools.

Kristina Mayer
Chimacum