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Superintendent rebukes social-media criticism over calendar; board unanimously backs collaborative process
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Scott McAllister responded at the Sept. 15 meeting to a social-media post criticizing midweek institute days, called the post's personal attack "ignorant" and urged community members to seek dialogue; board members publicly supported the district's calendar process.
Superintendent Dr. Scott McAllister used his Sept. 15 report to address a social-media post that criticized the district's calendar and questioned his personal circumstances.
Dr. McAllister said a post had questioned "how the childless superintendent could be allowed to create a calendar by putting Institute days on random Wednesdays instead of being quote veil and doing it on Fridays." He said he took offense and asked community members to "call or come in and meet with me face to face" to discuss concerns. "To imply that the decision to place an Institute Day in the middle of the week was made because I, as someone who does not have children of my own, could not possibly understand nor care about those who do, is ignorant, uninformed and completely without merit," McAllister said.
McAllister outlined the calendar rationale: midweek institute days produce higher staff and student attendance than Friday institute days, improving professional development and consistency of instruction. He said an explanatory email with the calendar process would be sent to families.
Board members responded with public support for the superintendent and the district's collaborative calendar process, emphasizing that calendar decisions reflect input from administrators, teachers, principals and the board rather than a single individual. Several board members urged community members to seek understanding and constructive dialogue rather than social-media attacks.
Why it matters: The superintendent framed the remarks as a defense of professional educators and a call for civility in public discourse, linking respectful engagement to broader concerns about educator recruitment and retention.
Action: No formal board vote was required on the matter; the superintendent's remarks were recorded as part of the superintendent's report and board members voiced support on the record.
