Parents, staff and students press board on superintendent search and workplace concerns at Columbia Valley

A slate of parents, certificated staff and student leaders used the public comment period March 11 to press the Evergreen School Board on its superintendent search and to raise allegations of harassment and micromanagement at Columbia Valley Elementary.

Angie Bunda, a parent with two students in the district, said she and others found it "odd" there were two finalists rather than three and questioned whether a nationwide search had been conducted. "People are interested to learn exactly how their tax dollars were used," Bunda said.

The testimony included a formal reading by Heather Killam on behalf of a majority of Columbia Valley certificated staff. Killam said the staff resolution accused building leadership of micromanagement, intimidation and retaliatory tactics that have created "a culture of fear, eroding the culture of trust and collaboration." She urged the board to "direct the…