Editorial: Two suspended Savage teachers attend board meeting

Two of the teachers that had been suspended from Savage Elementary School duties in a big fiasco under former School Supt Michael Van Tassel attended Monday’s meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education.
Although they previously had been warned not to come on school property, they told those who asked that they got an email that said their jobs were reinstated and the warning to stay off school property was no longer in force.
School Board Trustee Sherry Frazier asked at Monday’s meeting for an update on the Savage School teachers, but was met with silence. She said the board needed to have resolution of this matter.
Four teachers had filed suit against the school district after being put on paid leave for alleged misconduct in the state testing of students a year ago. After they filed suit, they were put on unpaid leave.
New School Supt. Pete Kudlak has said that he wants resolution to this issue. He has said he will be meeting with school district attorneys soon to try to resolve this issue so the district can move forward.
It was an unexpected pleasure to see two of the Savage Five at Monday’s meeting, along with former Savage School Principal Kelly Villa, who now has another position in another district.
The district is yearning for a positive solution to this incredibly painful situation involving beloved teachers. We hope School Supt. Kudlak can heal the district.