January 28, 2019

The Board of Education has spent a considerable amount of time working towards common ground in light of the recent photograph that surfaced and the letter from the NEA. The Board worked through a two-step process to ensure that both issues were vetted fully and in the best interest of the school district.

The first step involved a meeting with all Board of Education members. Members were asked to share their thinking on these events, reflect on who has been affected, consider how they affect the vision, mission, and goals of the district, and consider what needs to be done to move forward. Policies were also closely reviewed and a healthy discussion ensued.

The next meeting involved Dr. Carpenter and he was asked to share his thoughts on the events, as well as offer a plan on moving forward. Dr. Carpenter was candid and open in sharing his feelings and offered an apology for the distraction to our work. The board agreed to support Dr. Carpenter and work with him through this time.

The Board of Education acknowledges that we live in a time where we must be mindful of our actions. We are sensitive to the fact that we are all human beings, that no one is perfect, and we must learn to have productive dialogue together.

It is important for our patrons to know that your Board of Education appreciates and values your feedback, has heard your concerns, and sincerely hopes that we can all move forward for the betterment of our children. And to our amazing staff, we are extremely grateful for the wonderful work you do each and every day.

Respectfully,

Phyllis Balagna
Board President