|
'I'm nobody's whipping boy,' says superintendent
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | Parent Karla Obaugh voiced complaints about the Highland school system to the school board and superintendent just before the board met, prompting a tough reply from superintendent Gary Blair. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
|
MONTEREY - At the end of a school year that saw Highland County Public Schools $107,000 in the black at year's end, teacher satisfaction high, and public perception of the system generally favorable, superintendent Gary Blair found himself defending his actions before the school board Monday.
A few minutes before the school board's meeting, parent Karla Obaugh of McDowell addressed board members, saying she was not satisfied with the school's faculty and administration. She told Blair she was not happy with the outcome of earlier discussions she had with him about class size and coaching assignments, singling out one teacher/ coach for criticism.
After the meeting, she said she was dissatisfied with Highland High School principal Randy Hooke's leadership style. She said she saw the proposed class schedule for next year and was disappointed that several high school and middle school classes were split (with 10 students to a class) while elementary classes had 20-25 students per class.
Obaugh also claims one teacher assisted students in achieving good grades by giving them answers to test questions and that administrators refused to do anything about it.
Blair took exception to Obaugh's comments. He told school board members, "I will defend my faculty and staff to anybody at any time, and I am angry. When someone comes in my office, sometimes upset, and they want an ear rather than a solution, and make accusations, and in the middle of explaining what happens on the part of the administration and they walk out of my office, I don't appreciate it.
"We've had one applicant for varsity volleyball," said Blair. "Our teachers are overburdened … I have been in education 34 years; I have seldom seen faculty do more for less.
"I have two vacancies … one in business, one in vocational education ... Mr. (Shane) Waybright will be teaching in Rockbridge County next year; the reason I have a vacancy there is financial … he got much more money there (Rockbridge County) than he did here, that's what he told me. I did a phone interview with a lady in the Roanoke area, 12 years of experience, wanted to come to Highland County to teach business. She turned it down because it was $28,000.
"Out of 133 school divisions our salaries rank 112th. We are lucky to have a full body of teachers … I do not tolerate mediocrity, I do not tolerate subpar performance … I have fired tenured teachers because they could not teach effectively.
"Every time I hear there are many (concerned) parents, I can't find them. I think it's a mirage.
"I follow leads. I spend an inordinate amount of time during the year following leads to find out there is not as much unhappiness as there seems to be," he said.
"We have two public comment sections during the board meeting to make comments. That is designed for positive and productive conversation. We can't have that if we have guerilla fighting techniques proceed in the boardroom. I'm nobody's whipping boy.
"I will not talk about personnel issues in public, especially since this is a small division … from the comments before the board meeting, I think everyone knows who the attack was leveled against," he added.
"I'm offended … I have never been someone to take anything out on anybody. I will work with the community, I love this community, and I consider Highland County teachers my family.
"I'm resentful right now and I apologize for my comments. It's unconscionable and I don't think it should be allowed."
Following the meeting, Blair declined to comment further on Obaugh's concerns citing staff confidentiality.
| 
)