Hi, my name is Tom Witten. I know many of you.

First, I’m not the leader of this effort. However, I am working with a group of concerned community members and parents to create a united front against this situation—thanks to Mr. Sleek’s dedication. I’m just a guy who can’t stand the injustice of this decision.

I’ve talked to all the board members, met with the superintendent, had a long chat with “the Boz,” and spoke with Mr. Sleek. I haven’t had the chance to talk to Miss Allen or Mrs. Scott yet.

Miss Allen, previously known as Ms. Allen-Bidwell during her marriage, has since returned to her maiden name after Mr. Bidwell’s passing. While I avoided art class like the plague, I’ve heard nothing but praise for her dedication, and if it’s anything like Mr. Bidwell’s, she’s a huge asset.

Mrs. Scott, who previously went by Ms. Bright, has also had a name change. I’m unsure if it’s her maiden or divorced name, but she’s been teaching computer science and covers the arts. I’ve only had one typing class with her, so I haven’t interacted much with her.

I’ve worked hard to understand every viewpoint because going into this blind would be a huge mistake. Here’s the quick version of what I’ve learned:

• No one is acting beyond the bounds of contractual agreements, and most people agree on the facts.
• Superintendent Starcher is technically within her rights to say, “We need to see what’s out there.” But her conclusion and mine couldn’t be more different.

She claims that if no one who is qualified applies, Mr. Sleek will be rehired.

My response? I told my wife it’s like telling your trusty tractor, “You’ve plowed these fields faithfully for decades, but I’m going to try using an untested contraption I found on Craigslist. Maybe I’ll call you back to finish the job if it breaks down.”

That’s not how you treat equipment that’s built your farm, and certainly not the people who have successfully developed so many students!

Some board members believe we need “new blood,” saying there’s a lot of great young talent out there. On the surface, I agree. But here’s the problem: they’re doing this by tearing down the legacy of these excellent teachers.

Every person I’ve spoken to says the teacher in question's performance hasn’t slipped. And in fact, they were rated as some of the highest-scoring educators. They just received stellar reviews. Typically, poor performance leads to non-renewal—not age. But hey, what do I know?

I told Mr. Sleek I wouldn’t back him if he were “batshit crazy running naked down the halls.” Even the administration admits his excellence, and here we are trying to exit an exceptional instructor beloved by the community. It’s baffling.

Other key points:

• Heidi Fryman, another great teacher, was renewed, while the Bostic, Scott/Bright, Allen, and Sleek, who the community is fervently supporting, were not renewed. It's perplexing, to say the least.
• Dan Liedtke has fully retired.

The timing of this decision—right around Thanksgiving—sets the stage for low turnout at December board meetings during the hectic holiday season. If this involved six teachers instead of four, I doubt Mrs. Starcher would’ve chosen this fight.

To be clear, this isn’t about disparaging Fryman or Liedtke. This community loves and supports both of these teachers.  This is about the fairness and treatment of equally effective and beloved teachers.

The more I’ve dug into this, the more outrageous it seems. I’m not Woodward or Bernstein, but I’ll keep you updated.

OUR ASK TO YOU AS THE COMMUNITY:  Call or email your superintendent and board members and express your displeasure with their direction.  Continue posting and reposting the petitions and updates that come from these forums.

The board members work for the community, and elections are coming up for new members.  Voting is power!  It seems like a good time to have some fresh perspective from those our superintendent isn't "managing" to her benefit.