PALOUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT #301 - GARFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT #302
JOINT BOARD MEETING - TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2003
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Mike Cronk at 7:01 p.m.
Present: Palouse Board members; Jerry Schwartzman, John Leendertsen, Paula Echanove, Kent Keller, Mike White Garfield Board members; Mike Cronk, Roger Pennell, Warren Neal, Jill Palmer, Craig Cochran
Also present: Superintendent Beverly Fox, Principals Bill LaMunyan and Skip Wilson, and recorder Frankie Swinney
Guests: Deborah Anderson, April Pfaff, Cheryl Curtis, Louanne Deerkop, Theresa Pfaff, Emily Wagnitz, Patty Kent, Marvin Pillers, Becky Manning, Debbie Holbrook, Kathy Pinter, Don Holbrook, Jody Akins, Mike Burt, Cindy Dvorak, Patty Cottrill, Rich Olson, Kurt Kimbering, Cindy Kimberling, Sherry Partch, Paul Hendrickson, Janet Barstow, Alli Bennett, Wendy Delzer,Holly Thomas, Doug Willcox, Jarod Pfaff, Jiggs Anderson, Pat Flansburg, Tim Coles, Jack Neal, Archie Neal, Larry Warner, Ron Rosebrook, Tim Boone, Larry Palmer, Peter Bishop, Julie Bishop.
Item IV, Executive Session was moved to follow Public Comment and Item III, Cooperative Agreement/Administrative Structure would follow the Executive Session. There will be no action taken.
Sherry Partch asked why the board is hiding behind the secrecy of executive session and why doesn’t the board trust the people of Garfield who elected them. What is the issue?
Mike Cronk responded that executive session protects employees. He stated that the board has to abide by their legal counsel and protect the employee.
Cindy Kimberling said people are concerned about the cooperative. What is going to stop this from happening to another employee if someone doesn’t like them? Cindy stated that the students and staff are cooperating. They do not see the schools as Garfield or Palouse, but as Gar-Pal. The only thing that isn’t cooperating is the boards. These ten board members are not working cooperatively. She also expressed concern over the expensive attorney fees that the boards are incurring over this issue, and the possibility of consolidation.
Kurt Kimberling expressed his concern over having two separate superintendents. Would that be the beginning of the end of the cooperative? It is a poor option to choose. He also felt the conflict between the two boards has no options, other than to possibly get new board members.
Patty Cottrill stated her concern for the levies passing this evening and hoped this conflict would not cause them to fail.
Cindy Dvorak asked if the boards cannot work this out, who decides which one of the four options presented by Terry Munther do we choose. Mr. Cronk replied that the options would be negotiated between all ten board members. Do we need to make a decision tonight? Mike said he did not know. Cindy also asked if there was a deadline for notifying the Superintendent of contract renewal and Mike replied, April 1st.
Mike Burt asked if the boards were working as a cooperative in the way they are going about this issue. He said if they are working together, then why aren’t they working as a majority. The Garfield Board stated that they will go on past experience and work it out. Roger, Mike, and Warren all stated that dissolving the cooperative is not an option and that all ten board members have reaffirmed their commitment to the Garfield-Palouse Cooperative.
Jody Akins stated that she hoped the board would find a way to conform to the cooperative agreement or revise the existing agreement so that both boards can work with it. She expressed concern regarding the cost of two separate superintendents and if the money would come from staff cuts. Mike Cronk clarified current costs of superintendent and principal salaries. Jody asked if the cost of a superintendent/ principal would be a wash and Mike responded that he did not have those numbers.
Kathy Pinter stated that the districts really can’t afford attorney fees. She felt the boards need to work this out and quit using our fund balance to pay for this.
Becky Manning agreed with Kathy Pinter regarding attorney fees. She asked what is the actual cost of the attorney fees. Jerry Schwartzman stated Palouse’s costs since October are $2097.00 and Jill Palmer stated Garfield’s costs are $3880.00. She feels the rumors need to be put to rest and that the board should address these rumors.
Wendy Delzer feels that everyone is blaming the Garfield Board. She stated that she does not feel the Garfield Board came to a decision on the spur of the moment and that they had to consider serious things. Wendy said she trusted the board. She suggested that a mediator could help but the boards should do what they have got to do even if it means paying for attorneys. Mrs. Delzer said maybe the superintendent should step down for the good of the cooperative.
Scott Cocking asked what were the options from the previous board meeting. Jerry Schwartzman said, binding arbitration and a board work session.
Archie Neal reviewed the structure of the cooperative and what the motivation was for creating it.
Larry Warner stated that he hears everyone say that the cooperative is important. He feels that if it is going to continue, then a middle ground has to be reached. Either one board has to agree with the other or reach middle ground, that was the intent when the cooperative was created. He suggested the board get together, fire the lawyers; your solution is right around this table.
Archie Neal said what it comes down to, is what is in the best interest for the kids.
Tim Boone asked Archie Neal when the boards were split in the past, how did it work? Archie replied that in the past they had an administrative problem. According to his recollection, neither board actually took a vote but everyone knew how they felt. If one board could not work with one person, then the other board agreed that for the kids best interest the board should find someone else. Mr. Boone said he must misunderstand. He assumed the majority of the joint board would make the decision, but you are telling me, no. Larry Warner stated that in some cases there has to be a vote of both boards.
Janet Barstow said that she agreed with Roger Pennell that you can’t dissolve the cooperative over one person, but in the long run it could affect what happens in the future. You are always going to have a difference of opinions and this could happen again. Please address the real issue first before you take on a secondary issue.
Marv Pillers also agreed with Janet. He does not want to see this happen again.
Teresa Pfaff believes the boards need to make wise decisions for our children and future children in the districts.
April Pfaff stated that we need to trust our boards. If there is a deadline for Mrs. Fox, then we need to make that decision first and then worry about the future. This is about integrity and professionalism. Are all the administrators working together? We can go on without one person.
Mike Cronk thanked the patrons for their input and the boards went to Executive Session at 8:00 p.m.
The joint board meeting resumed at 11:12 p.m.
Mike Cronk stated that the board had prepared a statement of an idea to keep the cooperative together. They would explore each others position and find common ground. They admit the lines of communication between the two boards have faltered. One week from tonight, March 18th at 7:00 in Palouse, there will be a joint board work session.
Jerry Schwartzman said both boards should come prepared to explore common ground. He also encouraged patrons to call their board members with any ideas or suggestions.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 p.m.