Click here to signup for Paul's Newsletter!

Public Comments - Media

Outgoing board member critical of district operations
Polk County Itemizer-Observer
April 4, 2011

MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE -- Central School District needs a change in personnel and elected leadership if it's to make any "meaningful progress," according to one Central School Board member.

Craig Coleman
April 26, 2011

MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE -- Central School District needs a change in personnel and elected leadership if it's to make any "meaningful progress," according to one Central School Board member.

The district should also explore changes to the way it operates, such as replacing the position of superintendent with a chief operating officer responsible solely for programs, and, to save money, merging with other local school districts.

Those were some of the statements by Paul Evans to colleagues and the public in a letter he distributed earlier this month.

Evans, who won't be seeking re-election when his term ends in June, opined on the public perception of Central leaders, as well as the district's budget problems. He also said that he is considering legal action against the government regarding "unfunded mandates" on schools.

"I just sensed the timing for (the letter) was appropriate," Evans said. "Sometimes you have to put your feelings out there, and what happens, happens."

Evans wrote that the board's free speech is restricted outside of a quorum, and that the letter contained his individual observations.

His first point was a "formal, systemic" change in leadership and personnel, including the superintendent, district bond manager, Central's legal counsel -- the Hungerford Law Firm -- and "most if not all of the board ... including me."

"Whatever could have, or should have been done, the existing leadership team failed to identify the growing schism of trust," he wrote.

Evans noted in the letter dated April 4 that he believed the district would see "dramatic change" within weeks or months. At least part of that has already come to pass with the April 21 resignation of Joseph Hunter as superintendent.

Evans wrote the formal complaint process that the district employs, which involves a number of administrative and written steps, was insufficient.

"Part of it is because it's easier in the near-term to formalize communication in order to contain perceived discontent, because too few people have the wherewithal to continue a fight."

Of school board critics, Evans noted he understood and agreed with much of the sentiment. He also stated that "the critic has a place, but rarely is it at the head of the pack."

The leadership issue, however, has overshadowed a bigger problem of inadequate school funding and restrictive policies, Evans wrote.

Evans opined that the district should explore merging with Dallas School District, or several local school districts, to cut down on costs. Failing that, the district should consider "radically redesigning our administrative structure as well as our delivery system."

A suggestion was replacing the superintendent's position with a chief operating officer responsible solely for management of programs and not people.

One pointed comment advocated suing federal lawmakers and state and federal departments of education for "violation of the 14th amendment," something Evans has mentioned at board meetings.

This stems from requirements set through No Child Left Behind or the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills and a lack of resources for schools to meet those benchmarks, he said.

"The state says it will provide public education, the federal government says it will give money to do that, but that there will be consequences when mandates aren't met," said Evans, who said he's considering pursuing a lawsuit in the future.

"If they're going to be serious about the consequences, we should be serious about the resources to get there."