#ponies4pontrelli

Signatures on this petition express support for Superintendent Pontrelli and do not endorse the last minute resolution introduced by Director Stivland and passed by a 5-2 vote on July 11th to enter into conversations to separate or buy out the superintendent's contract.

The community asks for the school board to rescind their vote from July 11th at their next business meeting on July 25th. Instead work with Superintendent Pontrelli and her staff to work through their difficulties and demonstrate forward-looking leadership. It's what is best for KIDS!

We Ask Our Elected School Board To Demonstrate:

Fiscal Responsibility – Buying out the superintendent's contract will cost taxpayers near half a million dollars from the general fund. Over $2 million of cuts have already been made to the upcoming year's general fund budget. In addition, actions and delays by this board have wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional taxpayer dollars since January. Our tax dollars should be spent in the classroom!

Stability – A reason for a change in superintendent has not been substantiated or communicated to the public. Making a change at the superintendent position will bring a tremendous amount of instability right before the school year begins. It is not in the best interest of students and staff.

Transparency, Honesty and Ethics – Secret meetings with legal counsel, parsing of words to leave room for ambiguity in later action, insinuations at the board table about conversations being had outside of the public view is not building trust or confidence. Campaigns were run on transparency, honesty and community engagement. When asked specifically during the last campaign season about removing the superintendent from her contract none of the candidates answered to the intentions that are now unfolding.

The Golden Rule – Professionalism and learning to listen and disagree without being disagreeable is essential. The district needs to move on from hard feelings over previous school board decisions. Four schools were closed (OakPark, Marine, Valley Crossing and Withrow) and although painful we need the board to make a tangible effort to improve its relationship with the superintendent and staff. To date that effort has not been made. We ask the school board to take the superintendent up on her offer to have the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) mediate conversations that improve communications and conduct.

Process – How the school board conducts business is as important as the decisions they make. This resolution to begin separation conversations was introduced without any prior notice to the public. This special meeting was communicated to the public as a simple and straightforward meeting (disbursements and approval of hires). It was not held at its regular time or location. In addition, there was no open forum which did not allow for the public to weigh in on an important decision with far reaching impact.