NORTHFIELD — Though a month has passed since the last Pioneer Valley Regional School District Committee meeting, when many parents, teachers and students complained about Superintendent Ruth Miller, at least three residents say the storm has not calmed heading into this month’s meeting, when Miller is scheduled to be evaluated.
“Nothing has changed,” said Scott Lyman, a former principal of Bernardston Elementary School and Gill Elementary School who attended May’s meeting. Lyman and others, including Pioneer parents Deb Tyson and Sue O’Reilly-McRae, are frustrated by a lack of action taken by the school board.
Tyson, Lyman and O’Reilly-McRae plan on attending this month’s school committee meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. in Pioneer’s library.
In addition to taking time to address citizens’ concerns, the School Committee will complete an evaluation of the superintendent, according to the meeting minutes. It will follow a meeting of the negotiations subcommittee at 6 p.m.
During a half-hour allotted at the start of May’s meeting, community members voiced concerns about the finances involved in moving the superintendent’s office, a large number of beloved Pioneer staff members resigning and hiring a public safety officer. The resignation of Pioneer interim principal Mike Duprey was the last straw for many upset parents, teachers and students.
Lyman requested that the School Committee perform exit interviews with school administrators who recently resigned to get to the bottom of the turnover, and Tyson feels that while plenty of residents came to May’s meeting with questions, they did not leave with answers. She anticipates Thursday will be similar.
“I expect people wanting more answers that they’re probably not going to get about the building, Mr. Duprey and these other teachers that we seem to be losing by the boatload here,” Tyson said.
“My hope would be that the School Committee would report back to citizens about concerns that were expressed at the last meeting,” O’Reilly-McRae said, adding that no time for addressing said concerns is allotted on the meeting’s agenda. “It doesn’t look like there is a direct response … That’s what it has been like for months now.”
Lyman said that residents will keep attending the committee meetings because there are still concerns. He, Tyson and O’Reilly-McRae continue to seek action from the school committee.
“The integrity of our school is in jeopardy and the school board doesn’t seem to be protecting who they should be protecting — the teachers, the students and Pioneer,” Tyson said.
Miller will be evaluated on her instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture, as per the guidelines outlined by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
“It’s interesting to me that the evaluation of the superintendent is going to be on the agenda,” O’Reilly-McRae said. “I’m hoping it will be comprehensive and that all stakeholders will have a voice in the evaluation.”
The policy subcommittee will also discuss the school committee’s operational goals, powers, duties and authority, as well as evaluate the school committee.