School Board presents statement on fate of Savage teachers

Members of the audience at Monday’s special meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education scratched their heads as they tried to figure out just what was the status of the five suspended teachers at Savage Elementary.
School Board President Brent Mikulski read a wordy statement, obviously written by a lawyer, and said that was all that he could say.
It was after a 50-minute closed-door session the board held with its attorney at the very beginning of the board meeting. Vice president Martha Toth was again absent from the board meeting.
After board members took their seats, President Mikulski read the following statement:
“District legal representatives and MEA representatives met today to negotiate a global resolution to the Savage M-STEP issues and have conceptually agreed to a resolution that brings closure to this issue including reinstating the teachers. The details of this agreement are being reviewed and the parties remain hopeful that a resolution will be forthcoming as soon as possible.”
Mikulski added, “Hopefully, a resolution will be forthcoming.” He said that’s all he could say.
The agenda approved by the board had public comment only before Mikulski read his statement and no one had any questions at that point.
After two business items, Mikulski asked for a motion to adjourn, but former board member Scott Russell came to the microphone and said according to the board’s bylaws, they have to allow comments from the audience.
Mikulski said for special meetings, which this was, they only allow public comment one time. For regular meetings, it is two times, he said.
Trustee Sherry Frazier said in the best interests of the board it would be good to have public comment. Mikulski relented.
CeJay Marshall said he has been bombarding this board with emails for several weeks and Trustee Frazier is the only person who responded.
He said he is very disturbed that they think the Van Buren students are too illiterate to do well on an M-STEP test.
“I don’t know how you can say they are unable to do outstanding work,” Marshall said, noting they must make sure to never allow this to happen again.
Former board member Keith Johnston said he was a little miffed that the board president would not allow statements or questions after he read his statement.
“We expect answers from you,” he said. “We’re here to find out things. How do we know at the beginning what questions we will have after action is taken?
“People feel frustrated,” he said. “I came to two of the last three meetings and this board is not answering questions. This is the place to ask questions of our board we elected.”
Michael Gentz asked the question that was on everybody’s mind: Are you going to reinstate the teachers? When and where?
Milkulski said the statement does not indicate when and how.
Kim Kowalksi said she didn’t see the attorney available that evening and the audience was promised the attorney would be at this meeting.
“We’re being put off again,” she said. “Your statement is very vague. How long is this going to take?”
“We’re very close to a resolution,” said Trustee Frazier.
Amy Pearce said she thought the board was sincerely trying to solve the problem. She asked the board to determine how to keep this from happening in the future. She suggested giving teachers training in proper testing protocol, although she stressed she did not infer there were testing irregularities.
“Hope we can come up with a plan,” she said.