Vermont Business Magazine The three-person team that has run the Burlington School District said they will quit November 10 and return to their regular duties because of the way they've been treated by the Burlington School Board. In a letter sent to Board Chairman Patrick Halladay and made public today by Interim Superintendent Stephanie Philips on behalf of her and colleagues Paul Irish and Nikki Fuller, she said that the Board was disrespectful and inattentive to the needs of the three-person team running the district while a permanent superintendent is being sought. The three are ranking staff members in the District.
In the letter, Phillips said: "Some Board members have little understanding, concern or respect for the work the interim administrative team has faced." She said public comments and emails "malign" administrators. "This behavior," she said, "only serves to expand the 'us versus them' culture."
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, who has no authority over the school district, issued a terse statement following the announcement, and called the latest development "unacceptable." He previously had reached out to help in the transition to a new superintendent, which the Board declined. The District has suffered several setbacks over the last few years, concluding with the forced resignation of its previous superintendent earlier this year. Jeanne Collins agreed to step down in June. She was hired by the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union in May.
The District has suffered through the well publicized scandal of a teacher having an inappropriate relationship with a student, diversity problems, and, earlier this year, the school budget was defeated and an auditor found that the District had been running an unacknowledged $2.5 million deficit for three years.
Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement about School District Leadership
"As Mayor, I am committed, above all, to the children in our community, as well as to our parents and our teachers.
"I am frustrated and disappointed that the School Board and interim schools administration have not been able to come together and move forward during this challenging time.
"This is unacceptable. Burlingtonians will not tolerate this failure of leadership, which puts our children’s education at risk.
"Within my authority as Mayor, I can offer no easy answers – the School Board is independently elected and selects our superintendent.
"Upon hearing today’s news, I immediately spoke with School Board Chair Patrick Halladay and State Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe to ensure that all appropriate actions are being taken to protect the children and parents who will be impacted by today’s announcement and resulting events.
"Last spring, I offered to help the schools manage their leadership transition. That offer was politely declined, but I will repeat it today. We are part of a shared community, and the City is here to provide any reasonable assistance it can to the Board in accomplishing the immediate tasks before it: recruiting and appointing an interim superintendent and selecting the next superintendent.
"It is important that we act decisively, but not precipitously, in a way that moves our community forward.
"Finally, I am very grateful to the teachers, principals, and staff in all our schools who have continued their excellent work with students this school year, despite the uncertainty at the top of the district. The importance of that work cannot be understated – we are fortunate to have such committed and talented educators in our City."
RELATED STORIES:
Burlington School District to deal with ongoing deficits, IRS problem
Stephanie Phillips named acting superintendent of Burlington School District
Burlington Elementary School teacher named 2015 Vermont Teacher of the Year
Statement from Secretary of Education Holcombe
“The Agency has been monitoring and will continue to monitor the situation in Burlington to ensure appropriate processes are in place, and appropriate efforts being made, to get the Burlington School District through its current crisis. We will respond as warranted, will provide support as requested, and are available to assist the district in its search for an interim superintendent.
“The Burlington School District Board needs to put aside any individual agendas, and put the focus back on kids and putting in place the people and processes that will enable the schools and students to thrive. The board needs to move as quickly as possible to post a search for an interim superintendent, and work quickly and responsibly to get a high-quality individual in place.
“Above all, the board needs to recommit to the integrity and efficiency of a search for a new full-time superintendent, and commit to getting behind the new superintendent so he or she can do the important work of serving the children of Burlington.
“We offer our profound thanks to the staff who have kept the schools running and are working hard for the benefit of the students, despite the turnover.“