Thanks Jim,
We’ll run this in our 10-24 paper.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From:
Jim Needham [mailto:needham@molalla.net]Sent:
Tuesday, October 16, 2001 12:30 AM
To:
St.Amand Steve; Noelle Crombie (E-mail)
Cc:
Deneen Munson (E-mail); Janette Palmer (E-mail); Karyn Gibbons
(E-mail); Mary Beyer
(E-mail); Pam Monte (E-mail); Ralph Gierke (E-mail); Dr. Alice Ericksen
(E-mail)
Subject:
To the Editor,
I am writing this because I believe my
associates on the Molalla River School District Board of Education have left me
with no other recourse. The
treatment of MAPS Governing Board representatives and a number of other
concerned members of the community including myself grossly offend me!
I have tried other measures, on numerous occasions, to initiate a
dialogue on issues of concern to the community (as evidenced by their appearance
at Board Meetings and Work sessions) and met with little or no success!
If my associates, on the Molalla River
Board of Education, are going to boycott and/or obstruct ANY efforts to bring
about positive change for the students, staff, and community we represent I
believe a public explanation of why is in order!
My associates have twice publicly
accused me of an “illegal” act in attending MAPS Governing Board meetings. I must now request a public explanation of why this is an
“illegal” act. The Chairman of
the Board closed the meeting, October 11, 2001, while I was asking about these
“illegal” acts, in the context of inquiries concerning the MAPS facility
use. If the Molalla River School
District Administration and Board of Education has acted legally and properly in
the management of their duties I earnestly believe that public disclosure will
only vindicate those actions. Public
avoidance of dialogue implies there is something to hide, and I don’t believe
we have anything to hide!
Jim Needham
Molalla, Oregon
November 8, 2001
Mr. Jim Needham
412C Lola
Molalla, OR 97038
Dear Jim,
By this letter, we, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Molalla River School
District Board of Education, express our great concern and disapproval over your
continued actions with regard to your association with the MAPS Governance
Committee and Ms. Chris Nuffer. In May, the Board of Education voted not to
renew the MAPS Charter. In June, the Board of Education voted to terminate the
employment of Chris Nuffer. In August, the Board returned the proposed revised
charter to the MAPS Governance Committee as incomplete. Despite these official
actions by the majority of the Board of Education, you continue to communicate
with the MAPS Governance Committee and Ms. Nuffer in ways that are misleading
and compromising of the District's interests.
In a letter from the Board's legal counsel dated June 20, the Board received the
following legal advice:
"Ms. Nuffer has filed suit in federal court, seeking $4.5 million from the
District School Board and several of its administrators. Part of the amount
sought is for punitive damages. Board member conversation with Ms Nuffer could
be inaccurately recounted and introduced as evidence in the suit. I therefore
caution Board members that to protect the District's interests they not engage
in conversation with Ms. Nuffer regarding the lawsuit or any other related
matters."
On June 29, Mr. Steve Herron, an attorney who conducted our Board training
session, cautioned Board members about continued communication with Ms. Nuffer.
At the OSBA conference held on July 14 and 15, we received this same advice from
OSBA legal counsel. When the Board held an informational workshop on charter
schools on July 30, we were advised to remain neutral toward all charter school
applicants. Yet despite all of this legal advice, you continue to put the
district at risk by your continued advocacy of and involvement with the MAPS
Governance Committee and Ms. Nuffer.
Therefore, although you have done nothing against any federal, state or local
law, we believe that by your actions you are in violation of the following
official policies and agreements of the Board of Education of the Molalla River
School District:
1. Board
of Directors Working Agreements, adopted August 9,2001
2. Policy
BBA - Individual Board Member's Authority and Responsibilities
3. Policy
BBF - Board Member Ethics
Based on the above legal advice, your actions, and the policies of the Board of
Education of the Molalla
River School District, we ask that you act in the best interest of the District
and cease all contact with, and public statements with regard to the MAPS
Governance Committee and Ms. Chris Nuffer.
Sincerely,
W. Stephen
Kraxberger, Chair
Karyn Gibbons, Vice-Chair
C:
Mary Beyer
Ralph Gierke
Deneen Munson
Janette Palmer
