Question 6: You’re on the BOE, and your child’s favorite teacher becomes the subject of serious allegations. The school district investigates and shares the results with the BOE. The district is now recommending that the BOE approve firing this teacher. What do you do?
Pamela J. Priscoe: It is the responsibility of every member of the board of education to be fair and impartial when dealing with personnel matters within the district. It is also important that the board follow the process and ensure that all the facts have been gathered and there are no rushes to judgement. One must be able to separate personal opinions and the professional decisions that affect the district. In a small town like Verona, we are fortunate to have so many of our staff who are also community members, however this can sometimes lead to blurred lines. An effective board member must be able to see clearly at all times. If there is a personal relationship between a board member and staff member, the board member must be able to judge impartially so that an unfair advantage is not given to the staff member, or remove him or herself from the process. Conversely, a board member should also not abuse their position in order to further personal vendettas.
The Board of Education must ensure they work collectively as a team on decisions regarding staff, only using the facts that were provided, with no personal opinions coming into play.
