October 20, 2015 –Board of Education Closed Door Meeting
Ten minutes prior to the Closed Door Meeting ending, Superintendent Withers informs the Board that he is creating three new positions to replace the Associate Superintendent who just retired. I objected to the reorganization and was not allowed to ask questions.

October 21, 2015 – General Administrators Meeting (GAM)
Superintendent Withers announces the unauthorized reorganization to the administrators of the District. He distributes this document: GAM Handout PDF

October 22, 2015 – Superintendent’s Violation of Board Policy Letter
I sent a letter to the Superintendent and the Board explaining that the Superintendent is acting outside of the bounds of his authority. I also Requested that this issue be placed on the agenda of the next Board meeting. Here is the letter: Letter to Superintendent PDF

October 22, 2015 – Board member Rosemary Emery sends email to Board President Agenda Request
The email in part states:

“…All of this should be a discussion of the full Board especially since we have a Superintendent who will not be here in eight months. So I would like to see this discussion on the next agenda of the Board and McKell needs to be reigned in by you and the whole Board. I think he is playing hard and fast with his authority.”

October 23, 2015 – Superintendent’s Email Response to Michael Clára
The email in part states:

“After reading your attached letter (also reattached to this reply), which is filled with misrepresentations and baseless accusations, I have the following observations/responses…”

Here is the email: Superintendent Withers Email Response PDF

October 24, 2015 – Letter of Apology to Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Christy
I sent an open letter to Ms. Christy apologizing for the way she was treated by Superintendent Withers in the GAM meeting.

Here is a copy: Letter to Ms. Christy PDF

October 26, 2015 – Email from Board President Heather Bennett
Stating in part:

“I want to acknowledge that I received…Rosemary’s request to place the administrative reorganization on the “next” board meeting agenda…I believe Michael would also like to discuss the administrative reorganization in open meeting….Please remember that Board Policy B-2 states: ‘In general, scheduling of topics is at the discretion of board leadership, but if two or more board members submit a request that a topic be placed on the agenda, that request will be accommodated within two meetings.’

In accordance with our policy, we will discuss this issue within two regular meetings. Tonight’s special meeting, however, which is the “next board meeting,” is not the appropriate opportunity. It has been noticed as a planning meeting for the superintendent search and our agenda will be limited to that topic.”

October 29, 2015 – Superintendent Invitation to Special Meeting
TO:  SLASA Board Members and Assigned Equity Leaders
FROM:  McKell and Kathleen
SUBJECT:  Invitation to Participate in an Equity Work Expansion Conversation on Friday October 30, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. (Board Room)

 SLASA Board Members and assigned equity leaders (those employees working directly with Kathleen and/or assigned to the District Equity Leadership Team) are invited to a conversation tomorrow afternoon to clarify the expansion of our equity work and the increased support for that work across the district.  We would like to accurately convey information that was previously presented to the board of education on 10/20/15 and shared with key equity leaders in the district on 10/21/15.  Our hope is to clarify any misinformation that may be circulating, and to reinforce our commitment to addressing and resolving equity issues.  We (McKell and Kathleen) are inviting you to a conversation about our expansion and support plans and to share with you additional detail that was presented to the board of education back on October 20, 2015, as a part of the transitional restructuring of our district administrative team.

 This conversation will be held in the Board Room here at the district office beginning at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow (10/29/15).  This is an invitation only conversation at this point, but participants will be encouraged to share broadly the information shared, discussed, and clarified in the meeting.  We expect this conversation to last for less than an hour.  There will be many more conversations as we move forward with additional strategies and supports to enhance our equity work across the district.

October 29, 2015 – Received Email from Business Administrator Janet Roberts
Ms. Roberts responded to my email about the salaries of the newly promoted employees:

Email: Ms. Roberts Email PDF

Chart: Ms. Roberts Comparison Chart PDF

Administrators Salary Schedules: Administrator 2015-16 PDF

Superintendents Salary Schedule: Superintendency 2015-2016 PDF

October 30, 2015 – Equity Leadership Team & SLASA Board Meeting
In this meeting I am told that the Superintendent distributed yet another organization chart claiming that this was part two and that he did not do a good job in communicating this organization. He also apologized for the way he treated Ms. Christy in the GAM meeting.

I am also told that he stated that the Board gave consensus to this re-organization. In this meeting Administrators expressed their concerns with the Superintendents reorganization plans.

Here is a copy of his new chart:  Org Chart Part II PDF

October 30, 2015 – Agenda for Tuesday’s Board Meeting is Published
Board President Heather Bennet did not place the item on the agenda. This is yet another violation of Board policy.

Here is a copy of the agenda posted on Friday: Board Agenda Nov 3 PDF

October 31, 2015 – Community Meeting at Nettie Gregory Center
Had a community meeting about the recent changes made by the Superintendent and the negative impact they will have on the students in the District. About 20 Community members were in attendance. Here is a picture of a few of us: 

Supplementary Information:
Compilation of State Law and Policies on Board Authority on Employment Issues: Excerpts of Board Policy & Law PDF

Current School District Organization Chart: Current Org Chart with Notes PDF