Hold board to fire in District 34

In March, Judy Hamilton, principal of Antioch Elementary School was told that she was not "a good fit" for our district and was asked to resign. At the March board meeting it was apparent that Mrs. Hamilton has support of all AES staff. She is available to parents, kids and staff. She is professional, loves the staff and kids.

At that board meeting trustee Brett Bluthardt stated that this matter was not on the agenda until April and would be discussed then. At the candidates forum and in newspaper comments, Bluthardt referred to Hamilton's resignation as done deal. He stated if he "thought this was a wrong decision whatsoever, I would wholeheartedly support her staying."

The parents want to know why Hamilton is not a good fit for this district. Has she had a review this year and have the board members seen it? If she is lacking in areas, has she been mentored or guided where she needs help? The board members should see the results of those reviews and not just go on the advice of administrators. Bluthardt said he is not an educator so he trusts the judgment of the administrators. When you decide to release employees you should be seeking the opinions of more than just the administrators. Have you talked to her staff, parents or kids that attend her school? When have you walked through AES and saw what was happening there? Why don't board members know about the programs she implemented?

Bluthardt also states "we can run into problems as a board when we start to second-guess every decision the administration makes, particularly when it comes to personnel." If you don't question that, what is to stop administration from releasing people because they don't like someone?

Bluthardt speaks of being as transparent as possible within the law. Why then was Superintendent Scott Thompson's contract extended another year when 2 board members were missing and it was not posted on the agenda? Laws would not have been violated in posting it on the agenda, it was posted in 2008. At a meeting last year a board member was called because he was not in attendance. At that meeting Mr. Bluthardt became the President of the board. Why wasn't a call placed to trustees Pudlo or MacMahon for their votes on Thompson's contract?

You think you are transparent but a large portion of parents disagree.

The board is elected to represent the parents/taxpayers. You should be holding administration accountable for their actions. Not the other way around. Just because Mr. Thompson is the educator doesn't mean he is the only person who should be deciding the future of this district. What stake does he have in the decisions you allow him to make? He doesn't pay taxes or have children in our district. Mr. Bluthardt has said that until parents get mad and say, "enough is enough" things won't change. I believe that time is now.

Kim Holub

Antioch