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On February 3rd at 6:30 pm the TRUS Board of Trustees held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting via Zoom video conference to discuss a variety of issues ranging from the building project update, a proposed 8th grade trip to San Francisco, and the need for a possible additional meeting of the board in February. All members of the board were present along with Superintendent/Principal Sue Sherwood. A shift in leadership
Once the new business portion of the meeting agenda had been addressed, the board moved from open session to closed session to discuss a personnel issue which was specifically the evaluation of the superintendent/principal and a proposed contract for the 2021-2022 school year.
When the board returned to open session, board president David Karplus asked if anyone would like to make a motion. At this point, board member Sue Winters moved that the board approve the proposed one-year contract of superintendent/principal Sue Sherwood for the school year 2021-2022. In a vote of 3-2 the motion to renew the contract for one more year was defeated. Members David Karplus, Peter Mestaz, and Leeor Brown voted no with members Sue Winters and Anne Pfaff voting yes.
Sue Sherwood has served as the superintendent/principal for the past 25 years. She had expressed the desire to continue for one more year to help shepherd the school through the Covid pandemic and return to in-person learning, continue work on obtaining k-5 grant for the kinder playground, finish the modernization project, and be part of a thorough search for a new superintendent/principal before retiring.
It should be noted that the school board has received 30 letters from concerned citizens weighing in on the subject of the superintendent/principal’s contract extension and 73% of those responding were in support of continuing Mrs. Sherwood’s tenure for an additional year.
A special board meeting was held Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30 pm also via Zoom with all board members present. The agenda for this meeting included the introduction of John Rodriguez, Director of Human Resources for the Tulare County Office of Education. Mr. Rodriguez outlined the process of hiring a new superintendent and how TCOE can assist in this effort.
The next special meeting of the TRUS board is scheduled for February 17th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The next regular board meeting is March 3rd at 6:30 pm via Zoom.
View the recorded meeting of February 3rd by clicking here.
View the recorded meeting of February 9th by clicking here.
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I would like to express my disappointment with the board’’s decision to not allow Sue Sherwood to finish out her career at TRUS. I think the board acted rashly in a very shortsighted manner. I haven’t agreed with all of Mrs. Sherwood’s decisions, but I never doubted that she had the best interest of the school and the students in mind. I don’t think throwing the School into greater chaos during an already chaotic year was a wise decision. Mrs. Sherwood helped the school navigate the challenges of this pandemic with strength and grace.
She has been extremely supportive of my 7th grade son who was struggling with distance learning. And I know she was doing her best to try to help 7th and 8th grades return to school safely.
I am so disappointed in the board -and community members- who took advantage of a chaotic time to essentially fire Mrs. Sherwood in what became a disgraceful letter writing campaign. It just has a icky feeling to it!
My question is: Did the board really think changing administration in the middle of a Pandemic was in the best interest of the school?
One of the things that drew me to Three Rivers is the overall kindness of this community. I understand wanting change.. Change is good but this was not the way to accomplish it. This “coup” feels anything but kind. I would have expected better!
I agree with everything you said!! Absolutely appalling!! I have to say that she has been a tramendes help for me and my granddaughter! I was really worried about her going into high school because she has really struggled! Sue has spent countless hours on helping her get through 8th grade. Many times it has been on her own time!! She truly cares about the students!! I for one am so very dissatisfied with their decision!! Will be thinking about other schools! Everything is distance learning anyway so maybe trus isn’t a good choice for my granddaughter, without all the support that she has gotten from Sue, I don’t think she could have done it without her!! So sad! If that’s the way the board feels this is not the time to do it!! We are in a critical time right now with covid-19! At this point I think one more year is the best answer! Thinking of all the children in this difficult time. Shame on you board members! 👎👎
I concur with the comments made by Ms Bragg above. This is a very poor way to end a dedicated superintendant’s service to TRUS., especially during this difficult time.
I’m appalled that this brand new board has chosen not to renew Sue Sherwood’s contract. First and foremost, Three Rivers Union School (TRUS) is on a very tight budget, and being that Mrs Sherwood is one of the lowest paid superintendents in Tulare County, I’m bewildered that the board believes that it will hire another superintendent that is equal to or better than Mrs Sherwood for the same price. Secondly, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. Mrs Sherwood has been at the front of this since the school first closed in 2020. She has went above and beyond to meet the requirements for our children so that they can return to in-class learning. Many other school have opened, only to be shut back down, yet Mrs Sherwood has successfully kept our school open since the waiver was granted. Last but not least, TRUS is about to embark on another major renovation that was only achievable because the community of Three Rivers rallied together and passed a bond to improve the school. Again, Mrs Sherwood has spear headed these bond improvement projects with great success. Considering the schools financials, Covid-19 pandemic and the forefront of a major construction project with all sorts of hidden and unknown hiccups, hiring a new superintendent to replace Mrs Sherwood at this point in time was an unwise decision.
I am sickened by the actions of three of the Three Rivers Union School Board. If this is the way you support a dedicated employee, why would anyone want to take on the already thankless job of small school superintendent. I agree 100% with Jason’s letter.
Wow. I’m not a parent of a school-age child. I’m on the outside looking in. However, it doesn’t sound like a wise decision, to me. I wonder if the board can reconsider it. The only things I can think of right now are (1) the amazing Sue will get an extremely well-deserved rest, (2) who in the world would want that job, and (3) how will we afford to pay what the job really deserves. Leah Launey
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Thank you 3R news for this factual report regarding recent events at TRUS. I did not attend either of the school board meetings in question but my understanding is that the board followed proper procedure (as outlined in TRUS and Tulare Co. school board policies) in the manner that they considered and decided on Mrs. Sherwood’s contract extension.
Mrs. Sherwood has indeed been a dedicated leader for our school and has helped us through a rough year. She has worked long hours for decades in support of our students and our school. Our school board is also made up of dedicated volunteers who put in countless hours for the benefit our kids and our community. These volunteers deserve our respect, just as Mrs. Sherwood does. I believe everyone involved in this difficult decision had the best intentions for our kids, our school, and our community. While some may not agree with the decision, my understanding is that the proper process was followed and unless there is some new information being brought to light through these letters, comments, and posts, or there has been a violation of law or policy in making this decision, I hope we can all continue to support our students, our school, our outgoing principal, and our school board as we move forward.
I am forever grateful to all of our kind, experienced, and dedicated teachers, including Mrs. Sherwood, and our dedicated school board volunteers. It truly does take a village.
I couldn’t believe it when I heard that the newly “appointed” school board members, not even “elected” board members, had not only appointed one of it’s newest and inexperienced arrivals as Board President, but that these new members of the board also voted not to renew Mrs. Sherwood’s contract for the upcoming school year 2021-2022. That even though the majority of the individuals who wrote letters to the board, who were greatly in favor of keeping Mrs. Sherwood on for another year and allow her to complete her career in dignity, were not weighed in the boards decision process. Mrs. Sherwood has dedicated her life to this school and the children who attend it. Ending her career this way seems like a slap in the face for all the countless hours she has put in, meeting after meeting, to get us to this point. I believe the board will be hard pressed to find anyone as dedicated and hardworking as Mrs. Sherwood for our students or that they will find anyone equipped or better able to work with the protocols needed due to this pandemic! No one has had training for a pandemic! These situations are new to all of us! I also believe the children who are back at school, because of the work that went into applying for the waivers to get them here, are all happy to be back and it’s been wonderful having them back on campus. I hope the school board will reconsider their action and allow Mrs. Sherwood to remain Superintendent/Principal for one more year. She most assuredly deserves it!
I agree with you also kelly as you can see in my previous comment. This absolutely makes me sick!! I will be looking at other schools for my granddaughter. It’s a real shame!! My children went to trus and I was happy that my grandchildren were going there to. WHAT THE BOARD DID CERTAINLY WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE OR VERY NICE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS PUT THE STUDENTS AND TRUS FIRST AND FOR MOST!! GOOD LUCK FINDING ANYONE WHO WILL WORK AS HARD OR CARE AS MUCH AS SUE SHERWOOD!! SO VERY SAD!! SHAME ON YOU!! 👎👎
Transitions are not always easy or comfortable. Superintendent Sherwood has indeed “gone above and beyond,” “has our school’s best interest at heart,” and “is an amazing member of our community.”
I heartily agree with all of these sentiments and still support the board’s decision not to renew Mrs. Sherwood’s contract as superintendent.
I feel it is important to point out that there has been no “firing” of our dedicated superintendent. Such language diminishes the formal decision-making process of our school board and her service. There were negotiations and a vote not to renew a previously negotiated 1yr contract. This is the 4th “last year” year that Mrs. Sherwood has asked the board to consider a contract renewal. It is, however, the first year that the board has voted against renewal. The non-renewal of the contract is not a firing of Mrs. Sherwood. Indeed, it is a decision to begin looking well in advance of next year and, according to the TCOE rep, John Rodriguez, “the perfect search window” for our next Superintendent. In May of 2018, Superintendent Sherwood informed the board of her intention to retire at the end of that school year. Unfortunately, that was not a good hiring window, and the board spent $2,000 in a last-minute search to replace her. I applaud this board’s decision to be more proactive. I have attended the recent school board meetings and am grateful for all our board members. The global pandemic has been hard on our little town. Thankfully, all signs point to a conclusion soon. I hope all will put efforts toward our school, the board, and the superintendent through the rest of the school year and beyond.
Letters are always written to inform the board of stakeholders’ sentiments and feedback. I hope letters continue to be written to the board, and I particularly applaud the recently elected board president in his habit of confirming that a letter has been received. I believe this and the recent Brown Act training for the entire board indicates a more well-rounded and transparent era for TRUS. There is no shadowy campaign or coup d’état. There is just our town and our school and the way forward through the school board’s agreed-upon process within our community. The old guard is changing, and there is a lot to look forward to as the vaccine rollout continues. I am excited for the future of TRUS.
In gratitude,
Jalene Vincent Welch
I encourage everyone who cares about TRUS and the children of this community to attend the school board meetings to find out what’s going on and participate. It’s easy to form opinions and condemn people from afar but it’s much harder to show up for these kids as an informed and dedicated member of the team. That is what has made and will continue to make a great school. It’s difficult to take the emotion out of hard decisions like these but working to make the long-term future of our school a strong and healthy community supported effort is a much more valuable endeavor. After showing up you may agree/disagree with board decisions but you will see thoughtful, well informed decision making.
I was hired by Sue when I first arrived in this town, to replace a beloved member of the school and community after their retirement. I was treated by the majority of folks with respect, kindness, and to put it lightly, a mild bewilderment that I, a nobody here, was entrusted with interacting day to day with these wonderful kids. I personally cannot say enough good things about her as a human, teacher, and superintendent.
It’s understandably difficult to witness a changing of the guards when one has been so entrenched in the community and has had such a positive role so many people’s lives. Let’s all say a cheers and thank you to Superintendent Sue Sherwood. She deserves the grace of retiring from her position with a huge round of applause.
I’ll end with this- please be respectful and kind to whomever is brought in to replace her. As I was told in my meager admin position way back in 2015 (?!), they have some big shoes to fill. It won’t be easy for them.