Please see an email string between the Superintendent and I from back in September. I tried to work toward a solution and the Superintendent flat out refused to even take the time to listen.
********************************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Subject: Request for Meeting
Hello Chris,
Janet, my executive assistant, informed me that you would like to schedule a meeting for Monday to discuss "closing the divide between Main Street and the District". Since I do not believe that there is a divide between Main Street and the District, I called Annette and she had no idea why you would want to schedule a meeting with me regarding the subject of your request. Chris, my common message for the past three years is to have the parent talk with the principal first regarding their perception about their school and the District. If after meeting with Annette you would still like to have a meeting with me, I am more than willing to sit down with you.
Have a pleasant day,
Henry J.Castaniada
Superintendent
Soquel Union Elementary School District
620 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5639
**************************************************************************************************************
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 9:4AM
Subject: RE: Request for Meeting
Mr. Castaniada--
Thank you for the reply, but the concerns I raise are not an issue between the school and the district as you mention in your response. The issues are real or perceived acts of injustice and discrimination between the District Office and Main Street parents, and some of these issues go back to before Annette was the principal and before I was an active parent at Main Street. There is an ever growing number of parents that feel that you push political agendas that are not in the best interest of the community at Main Street. I intend to try to bring healing to the rift. I could easily jump on the band wagon, but I desire to take a higher road and resolve the conflict. Since you don't acknowledge the divide, it's really hard to move forward in solving the problem.
I talk to Annette all the time and her door is always open. She is aware of some of the disharmony, but it is not in her best interest to divert her attention onto issues that do not involve her. Annette has been a wonderful administrator and she has been more than competent at handling issues at the school. Where I welcome her input into the dialogue, this isn't about the school or the principle. This is about parents and the District Office.
As before, you deflect my attempt to find common ground over issues. When I asked for help concerning the traffic issues in front of Main Street, I got no response from you for months and until pressed, and even then it was menial. Supervisor John Leopold on the other hand immediately responded and a working dialogue followed in addressing the traffic issue in front of Main Street Elementary. The District really should be the one championing the safe passage of children, especially when it's based in California law. An issue like providing a safe way for children to get to or from school should have had the support of the District. I might mention that the Safe Routes to School survey that costs taxpayers a lot of money, has resulted in zero progress so far.
I have asked for a meeting with you, on behalf of concerned parents. If you desire to continue to be indifferent to the parents concerns, than so be it.
With respect,
-- Chris Hadland
**************************************************************************************************************
9/23/14
Hello Chris,
After reading your e-mail I think that it is important that I provide you with a brief background of my leadership style. As Superintendent I involve various staff members to participate, especially our school principals, when addressing various challenges. Your comment regarding "a divide between Main Street and the District" is very odd to me. I do not see and I will not support that our District is divided and each school is a separate entity. During the past three years the leadership team is united as a team of one and our goal is to improve the educational level for all students at each of our schools. The District consists of five schools and the District Office. There is no separation under my charge. If you wish to meet with me to discuss your point of view Annette will be invited. I do not accept your interest to separate my leadership team regarding your point of view.
In addition, since you refer to a letter in 2013 regarding a traffic concern, as I explained last year, I worked with Annette and Harley regarding your request. I personally met with John Leopold and had a number of conversations regarding the meeting that occurred at Main Street. As John stated at this meeting, we have a long history of working together and finding win-win solutions. Chris, every Superintendent has their own leadership style and mine will continue to be a style that will utilize staff as various levels when needed. In addition, I have been consistent for the past three years to have parent concerns addressed first at the immediate administrative level.
If you wish to meet with me please contact Janet,my executive assistant, and she will arrange at meeting late next week. She can be reached at (831) 464-5639.
Have a pleasant day
Henry J.Castaniada
Superintendent
Soquel Union Elementary School District
620 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5639
**************************************************************************************************************
9/23/14
Hello
Henry,
It is very clear that you have no intention of hearing what I am
saying. You repeatedly state that you have no idea of what I'm talking about and
have made it clear you have no intention of even listening. Agreeing to a
meeting is not listening.
I have offered an olive branch of trying to find common ground,
but you refuse to even acknowledge that the parents of Main Street have a valid
concern. Your emails consistently deflect the issue to appear that I have a
concern about division between the school and the District. This is not the
case. There is no division between the school and the District. The division is
between parents and the District. The school is not the issue.
I am truly trying to find common ground, but I see that you have
no interest in working together.
Sincerely,
Chris Hadland
*************************************************************************************************************
And so it stands... Look where we are today.
No comments:
Post a Comment