School board members emerged from executive session last Wednesday, June
16, with a motion to rescind the RIF notifications and reinstate all
nine faculty positions. As a result, faculty members who received RIF
letters in April will be offered letters of intent.
LARGE CROWD
Koliba addressed the large crowd of parents, residents and Harwood
community members who gathered in the school's library.
"By your being here we realize that the future of our school and
educational quality is important to all of us," he said.
"We've heard comments and positive feedback about all of the faculty
members implicated in these decisions and to that effect it is a
testament to their capacities and their strengths and the values that
they bring to this community," Koliba continued.
Koliba invited attendees to "stay connected" with the process given the
expected future changes at the school.
TIME OF RECESSION
"We are in a time of recession. Everyone is pulling their belts in," he
said.
"There are less students in our school. We need to be thinking about how
we readjust to this fact. Our community is not alone," Koliba added.
Following a motion made by school board member Mary Gow to rescind the
RIF notifications, Harwood faculty member Matt Henchen, who was among
the RIF'd teachers, spoke about the importance of transparency and
Harwood community involvement in issues that come before the school
board.
"I think as I speak here as a member of the Harwood education
association, we're sort of concerned about what appears to be an
adversarial relationship between the board and the faculty," Henchen
said.
CHANGES AT THE SCHOOL
Henchen encouraged board members to look at the preamble in their
contracts and emphasized the need for teamwork between the faculty and
the board in addressing upcoming issues and changes at the school.
"The board may be the generals and the politicians, but we're on the
front lines," he said.
"We are willing to sacrifice. We want to be a part of the discussion as
to what sacrifices will be best. At the same time we don't want to be
sacrificed," Henchen continued.
Koliba said that the school board is in the process of commissioning a
committee comprised of faculty, students, community members and board
members to investigate and provide input on upcoming potential changes
at Harwood.
ALL PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT
School board member Bob Holden said that all of Harwood's programs are
"really important" and that it is difficult to find a balance between
programs and the budget. Holden said that no programs have been cut in
the last 13 years.
One community member expressed concern about the possible reduction in
career programs that benefit students who do not go on to college.
Recently retired Harwood English teacher Sarah Page said that when she
decided to retire she found out that a position in her department was
cut.
"I know for sure that we didn't lose enough students between this year
and next year that we can lose two English teachers," She said.
FIXED INCOME
"As someone who is now living on a fixed income for the rest of her
life, and as someone that doesn't have children, I will always, always,
always in this district, where I intend to live until I'm a very old
woman, vote for the school budget because we are funding the children of
tomorrow. It is the most important thing we do besides parenting well,
is to provide our children with a good education," she continued.
Gow told attendees, "It is important to get involved even when we are
not in a time of crisis."
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