We have observed, as closely as possible, the dialogue arising from recent actions taken by the school board.

We have attended community meetings, also attended by a school board member. His presence was apparently to listen to the concerns expressed by community members.

He appeared receptive and interested, but nothing changed. 

We have attended school board meetings where the board invited comments from community and then completely ignored them. This resistance to community input is a basis for Recall II.  

Each of us have a masters degree in education and were participants in a federally supported program specializing in the education of under-represented youth. We taught migrant youth in the Everglades of Florida and Eskimo children in the bush in northern Alaska. 

The clear focus of this educational program was group process, both as an educational technique and as an administrative tool. The presentation of differing points of view was encouraged, rewarded and celebrated. We were fortunate participants in an quality and innovative educational “think tank.” It is through this debating of divergent points of view that sound public educational policy emerges.  

Here, it gets you fired.  

Firing an administrator for expressing differences in educational philosophy is unconscionable and pathetic.

We are suspicious of school boards that act in apparent consistent unanimity. Such agreement is usually the result of uncaring participants or intimidation by dominant members. In either case, the students suffer from the loss of creative and imaginative leadership.

In most meetings, at least one board member invited concerned community members to run for a school board position. Implicit within this statement is the challenge, if you think you can do the job better than us, then go for it. We will.  We have been impressed by the thoughtful and insightful comments of our neighbors who have attended and participated in these meetings. We have been impressed by the letters to the editors authored by insightful community members with widely varying life experiences who genuinely care about the staff, teachers and students. 

The upcoming November election will fill three vacant seats and create a new majority on our school board. There is no shortage of community members who have already demonstrated the integrity and courage to meet this challenge.

The new school board:

Item No. 1 for this new school board should or must be the acceptance of superintendent Thompson’s resignation. This is the only way to begin anew the rebuilding of confidence and trust.

Item No. 2 will be the search for the new superintendent. This educator must be experienced in the administration of smaller school districts. 

Our school district presents different challenges than a large urban district. We understand that the schools form a core of small community. This educator must be capable of generating the trust of all faculty, of generating the trust and respect of all parents and, most importantly, the trust and respect of the students. This educator should lead, not be empty rhetoric, but by example.

Such a candidate is indeed rare and will no doubt require an expansive search. But, then again, such an educator who possesses these shared core values may reside in our community already. This person has already distinguished himself as the principal of our elementary school.  

Just imagine what Mr. Pflueger’s quiet dignity, integrity and honesty can bring to the district. He has demonstrated the ability to support his teachers, staff and students. He will facilitate discussions involving creative and imaginative educational policies resulting in the improvement of the administration of our school district and, most importantly, facilitate student success.  

As a community we are now presented with an opportunity to have a quality educator as well as administrator; we must seize it.

Steve and Joann Ashlock

San Juan Island