Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Leadership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents ask MMSD for independent review of Van Hise Elementary leadership
Summary
Multiple parents told the board that leadership at Van Hise Elementary has caused student distress, alleging teacher turnover, special-education gaps, and instances of a principal shouting at a child; parents requested an independent review and said some families withdrew students as a result.
Parents and caregivers at the Dec. 15 Madison Metropolitan School District board meeting urged an independent, parent-engaged review of leadership at Van Hise Elementary, citing impacts on student safety, special-education access and classroom stability.
Amy Robertson, speaking for a group of Van Hise parents, said the school’s state test scores have declined and that the school experienced elevated staff turnover after Principal Stein arrived 2½ years ago. Robertson said parents gathered 38 testimonials and sought an independent review and "a meaningful action plan for resolving these problems."
Bronwyn Maceman described her son’s difficulties after an Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and accused Principal Stein of repeatedly yelling at her son and leaving him alone in an office surrounded by hazards. "He began to report to us that Miss Stein was screaming at him," Maceman said, and described worsening sleep, decreased food intake and increased stress for the child.
President Nichols reminded the public that personnel grievances must follow the district’s complaint process and said the superintendent will receive referred materials; speakers said they planned to file written complaints and include their testimonies in the submitted report.
The board did not act on personnel-level matters at the meeting; trustees said personnel complaints are routed through the superintendent and that public comment is not the forum for formal personnel adjudication. Parents requested an independent review and asked to be included in any resulting process.
Next steps: Board policy will route formal complaint materials to the superintendent for follow-up; parents asked the district to conduct an independent review and to engage families in developing remedial steps.
