April 16, 2009
Thursday

On April 9, 2009, the Board of Education of Hydaburg City School District met in a regular school board meeting and voted unanimously to retain the present CEO of Hydaburg school. There was one board member absent that night so was not counted in the vote. Their logic in retaining the CEO is "he's saving the district money and it's not feasible to hire a superintendent at this time." I've done some computing and both the CEO and his significant other's salaries combined are outrageous! The school board hired SERRC to do a superintendent search and that was not brought up at the meeting, the president skipped right over that on the agenda (more money going out without just cause). It makes me wonder how much was spent on the superintendent search and why weren't any of the candidates for the position even considered?

It was my understanding that one of our past superintendents applied for the position, why wasn't he even considered? They (the school board/CEO) advertised for a superintendent for $90,000.00 for the 2009/2010 school year that is far less than what the CEO will be recieving for the 2009/2010 school year, this includes his significant others salary as well.

We don't need a CEO, we need a superintendent! How are two salaries that total approximately $216,000.00 saving our district money? Where is the money coming from? Our children are going to suffer and what the board fails to realize is they are responsible for the salaries being paid to those two. I hand delivered a letter to the board at the meeting regarding non-retention of the CEO and to have open gym nights reinstated, the letter had 53 signatures, 5 of them for gym use only, 7 children signed for the gym use as well, but all commented that they didn't want the CEO back next year. Did the school board ask the staff/employees for their opinions? Not that it would have mattered, I guess. The school board didn't even consider the hand delivered letter. Their comment was "where are all these people who signed the letter?" What they again failed to realize is I was representing those people who signed that letter. It was NOT a petition, but a letter of concern.

We need people on the school board who will work for the children, who will look out for the children's best interests, it's surely not the present board. It makes me wonder why these people ran for the school board? Because it surely wasn't for the children, the school or the employees. I would like to urge parents/relatives/community members to start attending school board meetings.

Thank you.

Frances C. Natkong
Hydaburg, AK

About: " Long time Hydaburg resident, advocate of children and women, concerned community member."

Received April 14, 2009 - Published April 16, 2009

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