Question 6: You’re on the BOE, and your child’s favorite teacher becomes the subject of serious allegations. The school district investigates and shares the results with the BOE. The district is now recommending that the BOE approve firing this teacher. What do you do?
John Quattrocchi: My response to this question has a couple of parts.
First, I’ve always said the best thing about Verona is that we are a small, supportive, and engaged community when it concerns our schools. But, often times the most challenging thing about Verona is we are that small, supportive, and engaged community. So many people know each other – students, parents, staff, citizens. Inevitably, when a situation such as in this question arises, many will have strong opinions. It is important Board members listen to those opinions as well as develop our own. It is a difficult moment when facing a situation to be objective in the face of strong emotions. Laws and ethics are the ruling ideals, however unpopular that might be.
Second, the Board is a governing body. We do not run the schools. Even if a Board member is a licensed or certificated staff member in education, we cannot interact with staff or students nor interfere with the operating functions of our schools. Our responsibilities – and boundaries – are very clear. Board members cannot visit classrooms, write curriculum, modify grades, interview job candidates, etc. We do, however, govern sound practices, develop strategy, policy, and mostly ensure oversight that our district is operating as efficiently, as healthy, and as competently as possible.
Third, with all that said, when an issue arises as in the question, the situation is reported to the full Board where we can discuss the matter confidentially, inquire as to details and review testimonials, laws, policies, etc. We may meet with relevant staff with the superintendent, to validate details and cross-check what we know. A healthy Board/Superintendent relationship ensures that we are open and communicative in that sense. We review matters with our Board attorney as another way to validate the situation, relevance of findings, recommended course of action, and case law wherever possible. As importantly, we review possible alternate courses of actions, the risks different solutions would bear, and recommendations from the attorney.
If the matter is regarding a staff member facing action, we must assume the situation will be escalated via the teachers union as a grievance to the Board, and if still at odds, into litigation. We consider as much of the life-cycle the situation might bear on our district before we take action.
All of that comes together and the Board voices its opinion, through healthy and respectful dialogue. In most cases, the Superintendent has performed most all of these steps before review with the Board so it would be unusual to uncover something material that may change opinion. Unusual but it has occurred in rare instances.
With all that, depending on the particulars, the Superintendent executes the agreed course of action. In this example case, a termination of a staff member requires a public board resolution vote. Most all other actions, other than termination, are not subject to Board vote.
In my 15 years on the Board, I can tell you that review of issues like this example, or conduct violations by students, or sometimes even the actions of parents and others are extremely trying. On the one side are opinions, usually limited in facts, extreme emotion, along with the normal defense mechanisms all people have. On the other side are victims, video or witness testimonial evidence, rules of law, attorneys, law-enforcement, insurance, etc, etc. The Board and administration are in the middle. In a small, supportive and engaged community such as ours, many of the people on those two sides are neighbors and acquaintances.
The Board and the district are bigger than any one person. The integrity of the institution cannot be compromised by single-issue emotion. Although that is very difficult and unpleasant, I believe it must be the case.
