Editorial: VB School Board doesn’t get it

We can’t understand why the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education held a large crowd of concerned parents and teachers hostage while they pursued action against a board member who tends to speak out – to those very parents.
This is the way it usually works when municipal bodies are mindful of their constituents: If an item is not on the agenda for action that evening, there is no rush so the closed-door session is put at the very end of the meeting so once the business is done the audience can go home.
But, the school board went into closed-door session immediately after opening its Feb. 10 special meeting. Then it was absent for two hours while the public waited and waited and waited.
The concerned parents and grandparents and teachers and ex-teachers had to go find some chairs to bring into the room to sit in since only about 20 had been provided. Many sat on the floor.
We can’t believe how rude the taxpayers were treated. And then, the superintendent’s secretary was arguing with parents and calling them names.
What does this picture show? Doesn’t the board realize who owns the district? Who voted for them to look out for their interests and their children?
It’s the people the board is beating down that are ultimately in charge. The majority of this clueless board is working for the superintendent instead of the hired superintendent working for it.
This isn’t going to end well.