As new trustees challenge West Ada’s status quo, veteran board member agonizes over district’s future
DISTRICT DISCORD
B
oard members in the West Ada School District have clashing views about how the district should be led. Should the state’s largest school district — with more than 37,000 students and 3,700 employees — continue operating business as usual, or is it time for reform? The dissension at reby Holly Beech hbeech@mymeridianpress.com cent school board meetings makes it clear that board © 2015 MERIDIAN PRESS members have different answers to this question. The longest-serving trustee, Mike Vuittonet, finds himself at odds with newer board members. “It is important to maintain the experience and leadership our district is accustomed to at the board and superintendent level,” he said when running for his fifth term this spring. “I have served 14 years as a trustee, with Superintendent Dr. Linda Clark for 11 of those years. Studies and data are clear. School boards with longer-term experienced board members perform at higher levels and have fewer superintendents turn over.” When Julie Madsen defeated incumbent Anne Ritter in zone 4, she had a different tone. The district needs to be more accountable to taxpayers by having a strong strategic plan that eliminates waste, she said. “Parents will be given the information and voice they need to actively guide the education of their children and keep control at the local level,” Madsen stated. Joki, in his candidate questionnaire for Meridian Press, said he would be a “team player” to fulfill the district’s mission of preparing students for the future and empowering all staff to help students reach their potential. But the first two months of his term were marked by harsh criticisms of the superintendent and fellow board members, along with stark interruptions of presenters at board meetings. In the last three months, the board has: n Declined to fill an administrative position that helps schools collect and interpret testing data and navigate state testing requirements. n Sought legal advice on whether or not Clark’s appointment to the State Board of Education posed a conflict of interest. n Voted to reconsider the previous board’s approval of Clark’s contract extension, claiming the board violated the open meeting law. n Sparked concerns in the business community about the board’s ability to work together and lead a healthy district. Vuittonet fears there’s more to the recent tension than just personality and leadership clashes. “It’s my opinion from what has happened in open sessions ... that their intent is to try to replace the superintendent,” he said. “This is very, very concerning to me, obviously, and I hope that the rest of West Ada patrons will be equally concerned and try to inform themselves about what is going on.” Madsen said she’s not seeking to remove Clark. “My sole intent is to act in the best interest of the West Ada School District and all of its stakeholders,” she said. Vuittonet asks, why try to fix what isn’t broken and dismantle one of the most efficient and effective districts in the country? But in board meetings, newer members highlight concerns they’re hearing from parents, teachers and taxpayers. Trustees ask questions about how the district is spending its money and measuring its success, and if this information is easily accessible to the public. Learn more about West Ada’s leadership crossroads inside.
Full story, page 3 AN EDITION OF THE IDAHO PRESS-TRIBUNE // MYMERIDIANPRESS.COM // 09.25.15
ELECTIONS
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ON THE TOWN
COMMUNITY
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