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District 28C tug-of-war reaches stalemate |
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Wednesday, 28 March 2007 |
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Page 2 of 2
Comments from the audience indicated mixed opinions during the ensuing heated discussion, to which Trustee Kurt Dyer of Brady responded, “I am sick and tired of being accused … the job of a trustee is to be informed …”
Dyer also announced that the board would be setting up a policy on procedures that might help clear things up.
“We had to go through this – we have had to learn from mistakes,” said Trustee Sandi Birch of Dutton, noting that in the future the board will do things by policy, openly and differently.
“I want to build a future, not dwell in the past,” said Birch, who moved here from Washington and has served on the board for one year. “We would like both communities to work together. Other areas have experienced takeovers rather than consolidations.”
After stating that the five board members need to work together, Birch continued, “When I vote, it’s for what is best for the children – before taxpayers, teachers, principals …”
But while it appeared that this hot topic might cool off, those who stuck around for the last hour of this four-hour board meeting witnessed closing fireworks at the end of the program.
Though the board was able to easily work through several agenda items, they reached another stumbling block with proposed board policy #1515 which limits who can talk to attorneys.
In addition to stating who can contact legal counsel, the proposed policy which was introduced by Chairman Michel, says, “Board members are not authorized to contact legal counsel (on any issue that may become action of the Board) unless there is official Board action authorizing them to do so.”
Dyer pointed out that, with this wording, the policy takes away an individual’s right to seek legal counsel. Doheny countered that, based on past conflicts, “There is not one situation that couldn’t have waited … for the board to take joint action.”
The policy will be looked into and refined before being revisited at the next meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 17 at the Dutton campus.
In the meantime, board members do continue to look toward the future.
Superintendent Tim Tharpe announced his long-term intentions are to stay in Montana until he retires. “Let me do the job I’ve been hired to do,” he said. “I would like to continue to stay here and serve you and the public.”
Both Dyer and Doheny are up for re-election and have picked up nomination petitions. But as of Tuesday morning, no one had filed to run for either of the two three-year terms.
Registered voters of District 28C who are interested in running in the May 8 election can obtain a nominating petition from election administrator Betty Brumwell at the Dutton campus.
The filing deadline is 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 29.
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