TEXT OF LETTER TO BOARD PRESIDENT:
25 April 2014
DELIVERED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Kristi Swett, President
Salt Lake City School District, Board
2256 South King Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Re: Principal Selection Process
Dear President Swett,
In this letter, I am requesting that the issue of the principal selection process be placed on the agenda for the school board meeting of May 6, 2014.
On April 23, 2014, I sent an email to Superintendent Withers and Associate Superintendent Garcia seeking clarification on the principal selection process, as I am being asked multiple questions on this issue from parents and employees alike. I have not received a response from either of them.
You will recall that in our July 9, 2013, school board meeting, I disputed Superintendent Wither’s assertion that the school board had “no role” in the principal selection process. In our August 6, 2013, school board meeting, attorney John Robson quoted current state law which clearly states that the hiring of principals occurs upon the authority and approval of the local school board.
Over the years, several westside schools have been exposed to principals that have done nothing more than create a path of destruction and chaos in their wake. I believe that the placement of a principal should be a thoughtful, measured and deliberative process that includes input from all stake holders.
It appears that the agreed upon procedures have not been followed. I am troubled by the fact that community input and involvement has been excluded from this process. It appears to me that this selection process is being conducted in a very haphazard way, by the bureaucracy, which does not serve the best interest of our students or the community at large. This is unacceptable!
Shalom,
J. Michael Clára
Board Member, District 2