Letter to the Editor
To all patrons of USD 271. I would like to use this format to express my concerns as a member of the school board. Thirty odd years ago we moved our kids into this district with the hopes of a great education. We had no regrets. I have been on the board for nearly two years. My motivation was simple… my grandkids attend here and from all information I had available to me, they were attending a “failing school.” I thought I had a responsibility to use what, if any, experience/knowledge I have as an educator for the past 30 years, to simply help pull us out of this situation. I quickly learned that not only was the concern academic but financial as well. It was difficult to watch the huge number of students moving out of our district, which further added to the financial burden. When Mrs. Armstrong started as the superintendent, these problems were already on the table; all concerns inherited from years of mistakes and mismanagement. I am not insinuating that any of that was purposeful or intentional, however the only way to move forward was to see and admit what was not working. Keep the good, get rid of the bad!
I have been involved in watching Mrs. Armstrong work with the board trying every avenue to pull us out of the financial straights that we are in. This took some significant tightening of belts as well as many creative ideas she has had to put us on a more stable playing field. It is indeed improving.
Academically, I also sat through tons of discussions on what we could do to increase the academic progress of our children. I learned long ago as a teacher that when a child is not making progress you need to first evaluate how and what you are teaching. You might think that a simple theory. Not so much in USD 271.
Mrs. Armstrong has met resistance at every idea offered. One of those ideas was that because her background is in teaching math, she would help at the junior high level doing interventions with those students not meeting the burden of understanding or grasping topics taught. Mrs. Armstrong was the target of behaviors by peers that I considered spiteful and simply mean. The act of working together, for the good of the child…was wholly left at the door due to simple pettiness.
I have witnessed unbelievable insubordination that in any other district would have found that person unemployed. This ranged from keeping a running journal of the superintendent’s whereabouts minute by minute to calls made to companies checking up on whether or not she had indeed won a trip to a coveted convention. I was embarrassed for our school.
Due to constant accusations bombarding the board, the staff was reminded to follow the chain of command, which included bringing concerns to the Superintendent as appropriate. Mrs. Armstrong was never informed of the accusations made about her directly. The board has been told many times that the elementary staff believes that we, the board, are not to be trusted and are not being transparent because of enforcing this policy of “chain of command.” We have seen some staff go so far as to create anonymous email accounts sent to board members to “report” on Mrs. Armstrong. All the accusations reported were addressed by the board regardless of the source. Most met with no evidence that the reporting was honest. Some accusations were about the Armstrong children’s confidential information. I hope to think no parent in this district would accept that.
It wasn’t until the February board meeting that I became the target. I’ve made no secret regarding my concern using TANG math as our only curriculum for the elementary and have worked with the curriculum committee to find an alternate. In doing my research I found that not only does TANG not align with standards, the state has never even heard of Tang. The state is also curious as to how this district passed Tang as the math curriculum initially. At that board meeting I gave a two-page letter addressing my concerns with Tang following the teacher presentation offering their positive positions to keep Tang math as our only K-5 resource. I was met with the most disrespectful behavior on the teacher’s parts. I have never witnessed behavior such as this by professionals. Why, because I disagreed? Could it be that it’s been the teachers way or no way?
It did not stop there. I was secretly recorded at that meeting, with the recording passed around with accusations that I said someone’s name? I became the target of personal attacks. Apparently my words were so harmful…the teachers should have been taken from the room to protect their psychological safety! That was indeed an actual comment! There was nothing in my research and/or comments that spoke of the teachers…only the resource. I also was told I was lucky that the teachers did not all quit that evening! Again, why? The funny thing is no one, not one person has refuted what I had to say. Just that I had the audacity to confront their opinion. I encourage you to read my response to the math curriculum.
The culture that is perpetuated in the elementary building is not healthy, not for the children nor for the district. I must say I do not think this includes the entire staff. It’s often a “go along to get along” atmosphere. I am, however, sickened by the outright willingness to “break” our superintendent. I have worked under countless administrators in my career and would have given anything to have one such as Mrs. Armstrong. The children love her! They sense a person that loves and cares for them in return.
Well, it would appear that the mission has been accomplished. We are indeed losing a wonderful educator and administrator. But we are losing so much more. We are losing a great family and three more good children from our school. We are losing a soccer coach, summer softball coaches, fundamentals camp teachers. We are losing a person willing to step up and coach golf when no one else would. We are losing a person that prepared and taught hours of math sessions, reading sessions, and math camps. We are losing a person willing to tutor when no one else offered to help. We are losing that person that greets your child at the car door. The person they are drawn to because they know she cares for them.
As some pat themselves on the back for what has been done don’t forget to congratulate yourselves for nearly breaking the spirit of a fine educator. Bottom line is that this district has chased off the best asset we’ve had in years. I for one am ashamed.
I want to apologize to Mrs. Armstrong for not being capable of ending this. I have hated watching what was happening and only being able to offer my frustration but with no real solution. There are many people in this district that know what needs to occur to start the real change this district needs in order to make the turnaround. There is only one avenue to making this school “whole.”
I am so sorry to let those down that showed support but I know a losing battle when I see it. I need to put my time and resources elsewhere. I will never give up advocating for children. I apologize if my words seem harsh but someone needs to say something. Someone needs to say the obvious, the difficult to say and hear. With that said, you win! I am turning in my resignation as a member of the school board. I wish Mrs. Armstrong and her family Godspeed.
Thank you.
Thelma Berland
