School board tables administration staffing vote

After listening to public input on potential administrative staffing and engaging in an executive session which lasted approximately two hours, Summerland Board of Education President Ed Nordby announced discussion and any impending vote on the matter would be tabled.

The decision came toward the end of Monday's monthly board meeting, held in Ewing. Approximately 50 district patrons waited to hear the decision.

In a phone interview, Tuesday, Martin said he had spoken with all three principals about the recommendation he was scheduled to present to the board on Monday.

Details concerning that recommendation were not released during the meeting.

Concerns expressed during public participation centered around administrative representation from all three districts.

Jeremy Sanne, of Clearwater, asked how the recommendation process for principal positions would be made.

Superintendent Dale Martin said the board identifies how many positions there are.

"Administrative-wise, they identify, are we three, two, one, zero - they identify the number - and I make the recommendation on staffing, with the board's input."

Sanne asked if administrative positions were being reduced from four to three.

Martin said he "assumes we will go from three to two principals. If you're looking at overall, it would be four to three."

"Where does that leave Clearwater having any representation?" asked Terry Sanne.

"I would hope at some point, we're all representing Summerland, we're all in this thing together," Martin said.

Former Clearwater school board member Tom Thiele described turmoil that existed when the bond process started more than a year ago and how three communities worked together to form the new district.

"I couldn't be more proud of this school going up ... We have to keep this going together in the right way. Whatever decision (recommendation) you make, I'll respect it, but I think you're off on the wrong foot."

Ron Sanne urged board members to look toward the future.

"Summerland is Summerland. It's not three towns. Let's get this set of people together where we can make something work in the future, 20 years from now, hopefully," he said.

Marty Kerkman made a motion to hold the executive session, with a second by Steven Thiele, to discuss staffing.

Once the board exited the session, Nordby said the item was tabled "until further down the road."

During a Tuesday phone interview, Martin said tabled items "are typically taken up at the next board meeting."

An agenda for the next meeting, set for Dec. 14, will be available at the administrative office, in Orchard.