A group of Jordan-Elbridge school district parents plan to gather Sunday night to talk over the suspension of high school Principal David Zehner on Monday and the disciplining of other administrators. Mary Jo Wick, the parent of two children attending school in the district, is organizing the gathering, which is open to parents, taxpayers and residents of the school...
A group of Jordan-Elbridge school district parents plan to gather Sunday night to talk over the suspension of high school Principal David Zehner on Monday and the disciplining of other administrators.
Mary Jo Wick, the parent of two children attending school in the district, is organizing the gathering, which is open to parents, taxpayers and residents of the school district. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Elbridge Fire Station on Main Street.
She wants to get a written list of questions from parents, send the list to the school board before the board’s Oct. 6 meeting and get answers that night.
ãI don’t want this to turn into a screaming match,” she said, “I don’t want to cause trouble.”
She is expecting a large turnout tonight but hadn’t heard whether any board members will attend.
“They are more than welcome to attend,” she said.
Superintendent Marilyn Dominick, contacted by The Post-Standard, said she did not plan to go to the meeting.
Mindy Waelti, of Elbridge, is a parent upset with the board. Her daughter graduated in June.
“I think they’re just thinking about their own agenda and not thinking about the kids,” she said.
If parents remain dissatisfied, they could ask state Education Commissioner David Steiner to remove specific members, but Education Department spokesman Jonathan Burman said it’s unlikely the commissioner would remove anyone. A board member can only be removed for misconduct or failing to follow orders of the commissioner, he said.
“It can’t be just because they don’t like the policy,” Burman said. “It has to be for wrongdoing.”
The shake-up that has parents keyed up involves four administrators and the district treasurer:
- Zehner, the high school principal, suspended with pay on Monday.
- Elbridge Elementary School Principal Janice Schue, transferred to a new job, special projects administrator. She fought her transfer last year, but lost.
- William Hamilton, assistant superintendent for business and finance, suspended with pay in July.
- Dominick is retiring Nov. 1, even though her contract runs until June 2012.
= Anthony Scro, district treasurer, fired Sept. 15.
Contact John Stith at jstith@syracuse.com or at 251-5718.