Retreat included unions' call to remove Meissner

The La Conner School District’s summer retreat July 30 included a 90 minute meeting between the School Board Directors, Superintendent Whitney Meissner and representatives from the La Conner Education Association and the Public School Employees. The unions again made their “case for removing Supt. Meissner,” from her position, an Aug. 1 statement from Communication Specialist Suzann Keith, a district English teacher, stated.

In their email summary to the community, the unions shared their bottom line: “We strongly believe Dr. Meissner cannot successfully lead us as our superintendent.”

The unions also reported that Director Lynette Cram voiced support for removing Meissner.

The tone of their community summary is firm. It reiterates again the unions stance for removal, emphasizes their concern for their students education, and claims “La Conner educators and our community are united and stronger than ever together!”

The summary emphasized that Directors Janie Beasley’s and Kate Szurek, described as “Meissner’s strongest supporters,” are running for reelection in November. It called for voters “unsatisfied with the board’s recent actions and overall direction to voice those concerns at the ballot box.”

In a short phone call Tuesday afternoon, Beasely said the board was “hearing what they are saying and paying very close attention and giving a lot of thought to what we are hearing.

“We are working on a statement and will release it after the study session next Monday,” she said and noted she was not prepared to comment further.

A meeting with union leaders, Meissner and an outside facilitator was scheduled for this week.

Participating were LEA Co-President Aly Sehlin, Communication Specialist Suzann Keith, PSE President Randy Wills and Vice President Laraine Drye. Board members attended: Beasley, Cram, Susan Deyo, Brad Smith and Szurek.

Director Cram declined to comment for this story.