Superintendent Resigns, Parents Still Silenced, Sidewalks Discussed

LARWILL-With no agenda publicly available at Whitko’s Wednesday Work Session (online or in-hand), attendees took seats in the crowded WCA TAP room. Through the attendance of all school board members (thanks to holding the meeting 1 minute for Scott Werstler to arive late), the resource officer, Teresa Carano, a few representatives from the Pierceton Town Council, two students, a few Whitko staff members, and several parents, every seat was taken, with a few latecomers forced to sit on the floor or stand. Eight other latecomers were unable to find an unlocked school door and missed the work session entirely, joining for the special session at 4:45. With no microphones in the TAP room, it was extremely difficult to hear.

Photo byCompiled Image, Melany Love

Representatives from Pierceton presented a sidewalk project that they have been working on implementing for the last two years that would include part of the land that currently belongs to Pierceton Elementary. A proposed 6 foot wide sidewalk with 5 feet of easement on either side would cost taxpayers $25,000 unless the school board chooses to donate the land. Current sidewalks in the area are nonexistent or intermittent, and everyone agreed that this would increase student safety. School Board President Annette Arnold asked about community pushback on the project, and the gentleman presenting confirmed that there have been residents expressing frustration about it, but that he felt it was mostly due to people not being informed about the project in advance, despite meetings and notices over the last two years on the subject. Discussion was had on who would be responsible for maintenance on the area, with the understanding that the city would handle things like wear and tear or damages for five years. Whitko would be responsible for any shoveling or mowing-type care. Though the public did not see it, a packet of information was provided for school board members. Carano apologized for not sending on the most recent version that she had received on the subject but vowed to do so tomorrow.

Next up, the school board members discussed the agenda and the community’s ongoing frustration at the lack of free speech and open discussion. Arnold said her proposal was that on Fridays around noon, the agenda for the Monday meeting would be published on the school’s website, providing the public with the ability to know in advance what subjects would be covered (subject to change, of course). She continued, saying that the Work Session on the Wednesday prior to that Friday’s agenda would have the same agenda as the yet-unpublished one; those present at the Work Session would have the opportunity to hear the brand new information. It remains unclear if an agenda will be available for the public at that Work Session, but as there was not one at this meeting, my money is on no.

As the same rules for public comment (allowing three minutes per person, requiring the comment to directly relate to an agenda item, signing in etc.) would apply, she suggested an additional public comment time at the conclusion of the meeting could be added which would allow for non-agenda-related items. She suggested only allowing fifteen minutes total. Lynn Studebaker pointed out that this still limits public input by only allowing five comments, and Arnold questioned whether this was a law. Carano said the board can set their own limits, but Arnold said, “for the sake of not being here all night,” fifteen minutes was a good number. Studebaker said that the public is already being limited to three minutes, and saying only the first five people could speak could further silence people. Arnold interrupted that they’ve always done it that way. Georgia Tenney pointed out that in previous situations that they’d overlooked this in the past to allow people to still speak, and Studebaker responded, “If we aren’t going to follow the policy, then we shouldn’t make the policy.” She continued, “We’re here to serve the people, we should listen to the people, not limit them.” Arnold added people shouldn’t be allowed to yield their time to another to give them more time to finish their point.

Conversation moved on to the posting of the agenda; Werstler asked what the previous policy had been, and Arnold said the agenda was posted on the door about half an hour prior to the meeting. Studebaker asked where the agenda would now be published, and Carano explained that it could be found, “On the website. It’s under ‘District,’ under ‘School Board,’ and when you scroll down to the bottom, it says ‘Board Agendas and Minutes,’ and then there’s a link to a Google Doc with links to [laughing] to the agenda. [pause] I mean, we could talk about moving that to a more prominent place, because I think you’ve got to dig for it. I mean, does everyone agree with me?” Tenney admitted even she has been unable to find it. Carano said she’d talk to the webmaster to get it more easily found.

The school board discussed the proposed easement, and Werstler suggested that they donate the land but ask for the city to cover the maintenance for 10 years, rather than 5. All agreed on both points. After School Central has requested to borrow a school bus for their June 26 trip to King’s Island, and all school board members agreed this was fair, especially as loaning out buses to other groups has occurred in the past.

Monday’s regular school board meeting will be the first reading and presumed approval of the new, 58-page NEOLA and the approval of the field trip list. The meeting was ended at 4:39, with an outraged parent speaking up and questioning why the public comment session that has been standard at the work sessions in the past was not taking place. “This is the third time they have not allowed us to speak!” She complained, showing her notes. Other parents questioned afterwards why, if the board is claiming to be attempting to correct the lack of public input, they would continue to stifle it.

Photo byMelany Love, Compiled Image

The special session lasted only three minutes and consisted of the announcement of Superintendent Tim Pivarnik’s resignation, effective immediately, and the appointment of Kari Walmer as Lead Administrator in the interim. Both passed unanimously, with Tenney moving on the resignation and Thomas seconding and Studebaker moving on the Lead Administrator appointment, with Werstler and Tenney racing to second (Werstler won).

The next School Board meeting will be Monday, May 20 at 6:30 at WCA.