Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Why Hasn't Joseph Hunter Signed His New Contract?
The Board approved the new contract back in July but it still hasn't been signed by Joseph Hunter or by Susan Stoops on behalf of the Board. As you may recall, under the old contract he would be paid the remainder of his three-year contract should the Board seek to terminate his employment. Because of changes to Oregon Revised Statute, the new contract does not offer that. Instead he would be allowed to work out the remainder of his three-year contract. The new law prohibits paying public employees for work they have not done. For someone looking at possibly being terminated, then, the old contract is obviously better. I can see where Hunter would not want to sign the new one. What is not clear is why Stoops has not insisted that he do so. The Board voted to accept the new contract and, from what I have heard, she has not discussed the missing signatures with the other Board members. Is she once again setting aside a decision of the entire Board and acting as a free agent (as she did with the meetings format)? Is she conspiring with Hunter to make sure he gets a nice pay-out when he gets fired? Against the wishes of the Board? Is it time to call in State officials to clean up this mess?
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Can the Board meet without a public notice or posting? I heard they met with Dr. Hunter last Friday. Is that legal? What are they up to? Perhaps I heard wrong, but I think not.
ReplyDeleteThey are required by law to provide notification of all meetings. This one was posted but with less than 24 hours notice and the notice was hidden deep within the district's website. You had to click on "School Board" and then find the tab for "Agendas and Minutes" and then find the agenda for the executive session. No one would ever find it unless they were specifically looking for it and even then it was very hard to find. Almost seems like they didn't want anyone to know, doesn't it? In any event, it was an executive session so the public wasn't allowed to attend. I heard that only four Board members showed up and that they met for about an hour.
ReplyDeleteIf the law says a public employee cannot be paid for work they do not perform, would it overrule Dr. Hunter's contract if he were to be fired? If the Board does not get his signature by the next Board meeting, there is a HUGE problem. Perhaps that was the reason for a meeting last week (if that did indeed occur). I would like to see the Board require Dr. Hunter to sign that contract, only effective through June 30,2011, and if he can get some repairs done between now and then, be allowed to stay on. May be too late for that, but throwing him out will not solve the bigger picture here. Everyone needs to grow up and try to calm the waters, both sides. But I fear that a wall has been built that cannot be torn down. Any suggestions on how to repair the damage instead of starting over?
ReplyDeleteI do have an idea. Please, school board step up and do your job. Work as a team. Remember there is no "I" in the word team. Dr. Hunter, please accept the fact that most school employees and a large number of community members are concerned with your leadership skills. Admitting that you have made mistakes demonstrates you are a real person with the willingness to change. I realize that this is probably wishful thinking on my part. All I ask of the board and super is to accept the fact that our school district needs professional leaders. This is a wonderful community with awesome certified, classified, and school administrators. They need positive support fom Joseph Hunter and the school board.
ReplyDeleteMy challenge to Dr. Hunter, can you accept the fact that you have made mistakes?
I believe it is time to ask the State to help.
ReplyDeleteGetting the State involved would not cure the problem. We have already lost local control. And replacing Dr. Hunter with some unknown would not help either. Everyone needs to admit that things are screwed up, mistakes were made, and try to work things out. Dr. Hunter made many mistakes, as the Supts before him, but he could make the effort from today on to change things for the better, make the effort to heal the wounds, get off his stubborn high horse and admit his wrongs, and everyone else needs to do the same, and move on to something more concrete, a plan to save this district from imploding into itself. It's not fun working at Central, it's not healthy, let's make an effort to heal, and I am afraid that Dr. Hunter AS THE LEADER has to make that first step.
ReplyDeleteGetting the state involved is EXACTLY what this district needs. ODE is certainly qualified and prepared to hear complaints filed by ANYONE who feels there are unethical or damaging practices going on in a school district.
ReplyDelete