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Public speakers praise Pellerin Center, urge retention of staff and raise FOIA and OMA concerns
Summary
Speakers at the June 23 meeting highlighted successes at the Pellerin Center, urged the board to keep a valued staff member at Tennis Wood Elementary and raised questions about FOIA response timing and an Open Meetings Act police report.
During the June 23 hearing of school district patrons, multiple residents and staff used public comment to highlight district programs and raise concerns about board processes.
Tom Kortum, a 12th-grade English teacher at the Pellerin Center (the district's alternative high school), described successes including 100% of eligible students taking the PSAT/SAT/ACT WorkKeys this year and praised a former student hired as the Pellerin Center clerk. Kortum and other speakers presented the program as an example of student re-engagement.
Jacob Mason and other community members urged the board to retain Karen Verz at Tennis Wood Elementary, calling her an essential staff member and criticizing board members for allowing internal disagreements to occupy meeting time that could have been used for public comment. Mason argued the process left speakers unheard and said it harmed community trust.
Pam Sigg raised concerns about student test scores and asked whether there is a plan to improve them given the budget shortfall. Michael Lynch, a High School North teacher, urged residents to contact state legislators about competing state budget proposals and explained how per-pupil funding interacts with fixed district costs.
An attendee identified as "Mr. P" raised questions about delayed FOIA (freedom of information) responses and said he would pursue federal court after alleged failures and requested apologies from board members; the speaker also said a police report was filed on June 17 connected to an Open Meetings Act matter. The board president said she would follow up with the police department about the investigation.
The superintendent and board members acknowledged the comments, thanked staff and speakers for bringing forward successes, and said they would follow up on FOIA and police inquiries and on academic-improvement planning.
