Royal School Board

ROYAL CITY - Last Thursday's special Royal School Board meeting drew another large gathering. This time most of the sentiment among the 50 or so attendees went against Superintendent Rose Search.

There were three moments of applause following anti-Search statements. The third one annoyed Board President Bob Murphy, and he shut off citizen input after one more speaker.

The 3 p.m. meeting was called for the purpose of an executive session to consider the performance of a public school employee. Except for the board members, everyone in the room believed the meeting was about Search.

The story, which finally became clear at the Feb. 23 meeting, is that the majority of the board wants to go in a "different direction" with a different superintendent. The board is willing to buy out the last month of Search's contract to make that happen.

That would be about $123,000, which is Search's salary.

Andy Anderson, who supports Search, was first to speak. He apologized for becoming "a little emotional" at the Feb. 23 meeting and spoke from a prepared statement.

Anderson said the board is about to vote on the most important decision it will make. He said board members must rely on fact, not rumor or innuendo, to cast their votes.

Anderson stood behind Search, saying graduation rates have risen, dropout rates have declined and student test scores have risen during her tenure. He added that all of her evaluations, signed by the board, have been good.

Considering all of that, he said, "There is better use for that money than to pay someone to do nothing."

And the board would have to hire a new superintendent to run the district at the same time, he added.

Shana Davies spoke briefly, saying that the environment at the school is "negative" enough that Search should be replaced.

LaDonna Weber said there is "so much division in the community and low morale in the schools."

That statement drew applause.

A man who did not identify himself spoke about the teacher survey circulated at the schools by the teachers' union. He said it didn't matter to him if it was not scientific or perfectly done. He thought the results still mattered.

This man said it was clear from the survey that Search has little support among teachers. He questioned how she could effectively carry out her duties without such support.

Kara Hoyt said she was disappointed at what happened at the last board meeting, but it was difficult to tell which way she wanted the board to go.

"Why is it bad to fully execute a contract?" she asked.

The question wasn't answered. No question was answered. Board members didn't speak. And Justin Brown didn't attend.

"This is a hornet's nest," Hoyt concluded.

Kathy Freeman, who works in the Red Rock Elementary computer lab, described the crowd at the previous meeting as a mob and said she was shocked at what had happened.

Against Search or not against Search, Freeman said, everyone should seek out the facts. She suggested every board member visit classrooms to determine what is going on and then communicate to the community.

She closed by saying Search can't do her job without school teacher support. That drew applause.

And there was applause, which included high-pitched cheers, after one more speaker.

Murphy turned red in the face as he admonished the crowd. He called the "catcalls" unprofessional and announced there would be one more speaker "and that's it."

That speaker, whose name was not clear, warned against manipulation of a group by one person or another group.