Sparks fly at Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee meeting
Recorder Staff
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Miller, who took over the position of superintendent from Dayle Doiron prior to the 2015-2016 school year, has faced sharp criticism on several fronts. During a half-hour allotted at the start of the meeting, community members voiced concerns about the finances involved in moving the superintendent’s office, a large number of beloved Pioneer staff members resigning and hiring a public safety officer.
The recent resignation of Pioneer principal Mike Duprey was the last straw for many upset parents, teachers and students.
“Mike Duprey is the one that supports us,” said Madison Tyson, a student at Pioneer. “I don’t feel comfortable at all going to Pioneer. We have teachers that don’t even want to go to school because they feel like they can’t be themselves.”
Duprey is not the first long-term staff member to leave the school since fall 2015. Computer Network Manager Mike Holloway, Director of Special Education Sharon Jones and Bill Wehrli, principal of PVRS before Duprey, round out the list.
“I would ask that you as the committee do exit interviews with these people as they’re leaving,” he added, echoing a need to find answers that was shared by many audience members.
However, Miller said that the number of staff members leaving Pioneer — including six retirements and a sabbatical — is not unusual in comparison to years past.
“It’s really pretty consistent that we have quite a few people leaving,” she said.
During the last half-hour of the meeting, the committee went back and forth concerning whether or not to accept Duprey’s resignation, without coming to a clear solution.
“I think it’s a travesty to lose him,” Committee Member Bill Wahlstrom said. “Given the sentiment that was expressed tonight, I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of this yet.”
“Personally, I’ve never felt less in-the-know as a member of the School Committee,” added fellow Committee Member Peggy Kaeppel.
Another source of discontent was the relocation of the PVRSD’s central office back in January from the Pioneer campus to a space at 168 Main St. in Northfield. The decision came following the discovery of mold in the old office’s basement. The 18-month lease includes monthly payments of $3,030 for an annual total of $36,360.
Scott McKusick, a clerk of the wemeorks who examined the mold situation, said at the meeting that the mold was minor, and could have been easily remediated. He sees the administration’s decision as a poor use of taxpayer money.
However, members of the committee responded that it is a misconception that the office was moved because of the mold. Rather, the modulators that housed the old offices were not intended to be a permanent space and didn’t suit the needs of the administrators.( Really after 20 years? ONE person on the committee spoke , just one )
Jim McCray of Warwick also expressed his concern over the possibility of adding a public safety officer to Pioneer.
“A school that has a police officer on duty is a huge negative in my mind, and I’m against that unless there is a need for it,” he said. “I don’t see any reason. I can’t see how our school or the reputation of our school is helped by having an armed officer for my kid to see every morning when he walks in.”
Despite the irritation, a couple of local officials and students stood up in Miller’s defense.
“She’s practical,” said Dawn Magi, chair of the Warwick selectboard. “She wants the best education for everyone.”( with the information pouring in I find this doubtful and Ms Magi better watch her town closely, she is alot smaller than Northfield and has more to lose and will be much harder for them to bounce back if at all )
“I can understand people are upset,” she continued. “We’ve known these people (who are resigning) for a long time. But sometimes people need to move on, and sometimes it to our benefit to make a change.”
Lois Stearns, chairwoman of the Northfield Finance Committee, complimented Miller as “a very informative superintendent at budget time.”
Concerning the issue of Duprey, Miller explained to the audience and committee members that she legally cannot disclose Duprey’s reasoning for resigning.
“I really take my job seriously and I respect the privacy of individuals,” Miller added. “Therefore, I will stay silent on the issue.”( she is staying silent because she was caught in a lie when she addressed the Recorder )
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