GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Principals from across Green Bay’s public schools say it’s time for a reset in how they work with the district’s school board.
The principals called an unprecedented meeting Thursday evening to talk about their issues.
In a bit of a role reversal, the principals set the agenda and ran the optional school board meeting.
Concerns were laid on the table to find ways the two sides can work better together for the district’s 21,000 students.
“The trusting relationship between administration and the school board has declined in the last few years,” said Tammy VanDyke, principal of Da Vinci School for Gifted Learners.
“We are not sure why this has happened, but we came to this gathering not to complain, but to problem solve.”
A few potential reasons were laid out in small groups, then brought together on post-it notes. Meeting leaders sifted through them, finding common themes, both positive and negative.
“This meeting is not intended to have building leaders tell board members how they should operate or to point fingers at the board members,” said Jesse Brinkmann, principal of Langlade Elementary School.
Some positive current practices highlighted at the meeting include board members visiting schools, a desire to work together, and keeping the focus on kids.
A major concern was how board members use social media, some posting destructive comments. Other concerns were principals feeling board members don’t trust them and needing clear protocol in how the board makes decisions.
Brenda Warren, president of the Green Bay Board of Education, tells FOX 11….
“We’re not in this meeting to have everybody leave necessarily agreeing on the issues, but agreeing on how we can best work for each other so the kids are getting what they need in the schools.”
The meeting lasted about 90 minutes and at its conclusion both principals and board members spoke positively about how it went. In fact, they seemed to agree they’d like to do it again.
“We would like to now come together and say ok now we know how we feel, what are we going to do because decisions without actions are hollow and then this night would be for nothing,” said Nancy Schultz, principal of Webster Elementary School.
Communication issues are not new to the school board.
Last year, board members agreed to spend up to $6,000 to have two outside facilitators work with them on running smoother meetings.
