Clintonville School District Superintendent Tom O’Toole responded to critics at a Clintonville School Board meeting this week, saying area residents should be more appreciative of the school district’s administrators and teachers.
Media reports and social media chatter about staff being unwilling to help with an after-school program, the resignation of a popular social studies teacher and other district issues prompted O’Toole to defend the staff.
“The administrators have been attacked in public meetings and by the local media, and due to the rules in place have not defended themselves, have not been able to defend themselves,” O’Toole said. “I’ve been told it’s part of the job to sit there and take it. And that’s not right because that’s not part of the job.
“And I’ve got a news flash: School issues are not solved on Facebook or other social media.”
O’Toole said administrators are people, too, and they have feelings and care about the students and district. He noted the district administrators collectively have nearly 200 years of educational experience, nearly 100 as administrators, and they often work long hours — about 60 per week — dealing with difficult situations with parents and students.
He said students have tremendous opportunities because of the school system, and a lot of the credit goes to administrators who organize what the teachers do for the students.
Earlier, resident Mike Krueger addressed the board during the public comments portion of the meeting with concerns he had regarding the administration. Handing out a superintendent’s evaluation form that he had taken from the Internet, Krueger said that the board needs to evaluate the superintendent.
He asked the board for assurance that before any raises are given to principals or vice principals, their performance has been evaluated by the superintendent.
“It is not fair for the students and parents for you to give raises to administration only because they can still breathe,” said Krueger, who urged the board to discuss the matter in closed session without the administration present.
Resident Mary Kautz also addressed the board, urging members to safety in the school buildings a top concern. She also told the board what she experienced when she volunteered to work at an after-school program at the elementary schools.
“I asked to work with the second-graders, and I could not believe what some of these young children are doing,” she said. “These teachers and volunteers are pulling their hair out. I understand why some of the teachers and volunteers decide not to help with the after-shool program. There is huge lack of discipline, a huge lack of respect. These kids need help.”
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