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Higley board criticizes EVIT press release, urges clearer communications during negotiations
Summary
Board members said an EVIT press release over the weekend portrayed the situation as the district’s responsibility and urged EVIT to coordinate messaging more accurately as negotiations continue.
Board members told the superintendent and staff they were concerned about a weekend press release from EVIT that, in the board’s view, presented the development in a way that shifted responsibility onto the district. Members said the language was not consistent with the negotiated process and asked for improved coordination of messaging going forward.
"Their press release that they put over the weekend wasn't really a 'let's work together'... it was more 'here how great we are and what we did,'" a board member said. District staff said they cannot control what another organization says, but that they were surprised by the release, given ongoing negotiations. Staff encouraged consistent, accurate public statements from EVIT and said the district would remain focused on student outcomes.
Board members reiterated that they want to build a stronger relationship with EVIT instead of engaging in litigation, and expressed hope that EVIT will put out statements that accurately describe the operational arrangements and the negotiated terms.
The communication dispute did not alter board approval of the IGAs, but members said it increases the need for ongoing trust-building and careful coordination as the parties pursue a longer-term agreement.
