Stasis, stubbornness, stuckness spell trouble

Both sides in the La Conner School district turmoil agree that the administration has, at the least, not done a good job in their job of managing the staff or communicating clearly to them or to the community.

Superintendent Whitney Meissner has acknowledged that she has not brought unity to the district and community.

The school board realizes it took too long to respond to staff at summer’s start.

The administration side hopes to repair the damage by commitments to empathy and relationship building.

The unions, teachers and support staff, find apologies and soothing words will not fix what, in their experience, is leadership not adequate to the task. Their letter on this page today again calls for the superintendent’s removal, citing “a toxic work climate under a leader with whom the vast majority do not want to work.” The summer’s end has the staff hardened around their call that Meissner must go.

The staff are adamant. The Board is adamant in their commitment to work with the superintendent and their dependency on her to develop good working relationships with the district staff. It is the Board’s responsibility to assess and oversee the administration of the school district. Clearly, they have decided to stick with the superintendent.

Stasis means stability and continuity. In science, it can mean equilibrium and constancy.

Stasis in the La Conner School District is stuckness. The three parties, staff, superintendent and school board, have dug in their heels. “Out,” insist the staff. The superintendent will not resign and the Board writes that they will honor their three year contract, reaffirming a February decision when they voted on Meissner’s contract.

The Board has chosen sides. So, the situation is final – perhaps.

As Labor Day approaches, not only school starts but also the election season.

The superintendent’s contract is solid with this Board, but this Board has two members in contested races in November’s election. If there is to be a debate, it depends on the positions of the candidates challenging Janie Beasley and Kate Szurek for their seats. Marlys Baker faces Beasley for the District 2 seat covering the area of and around the Swinomish Reservation and John Agen is running against Szurek for District 1, in the Pull and Be Damned and northwestern portion.

The staff hope that these candidates will evaluate the superintendent as they do. The candidates will need to state where they stand and campaign to carry out whatever pledges they make. If Agen and Baker are critical of Beasley’s and Szurek’s positions, this may turn into a referendum on Meissner.

Elections may be a clarifying moment for the La Conner School District. But no matter who wins, in this split between the employees and the administration, the two certainties are hurt and hard feelings and students attending class in an uneasy environment. None of this is good for anyone of any age and whatever role any adult has in this lengthening drama.

Getting unstuck from that will be a challenge for all sides.