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The TRUS Board of Trustees has scheduled a special meeting via Zoom this Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m. Of special note will be two items related to the superintendent/principal position currently held by Sue Sherwood. At the regularly scheduled meeting of the board back on February 3, the board decided by a 3-to-2 vote not to renew the one-year contract extension for Sherwood.
In attendance at the February 9 special board meeting was John Rodriguez, Director of Human Resources for the Tulare County Office of Education who outlined the process of hiring a new superintendent and how TCOE can assist in this effort. Special TRUS board meeting
The special board meeting scheduled for February 17 will feature another closed session that includes two items. The first item is another meeting with John Rodriguez of TCOE to finalize a job announcement for the position of superintendent/principal and a possible motion.
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The second portion of the closed session features two sections. The first section will be to review and possibly consider a re-vote on the previous decision regarding the renewal of Sue Sherwood’s contract and a possible motion. The second section will consider whether to extend Superintendent Sherwood’s contract through December 2021 and a possible motion. The original contract proposal was for a period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
The public may view the entire agenda for the February 17 meeting here. There are certain rules and procedures in place for public attendance and public comments due to Covid-19. All public comments must be received by the board via email by 1 p.m. on February 17. People are allowed to read their own letters or summarize them. Review these requirements here.
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I currently am a teacher at Three Rivers Union School. I am teaching a combination class of first and second graders. I have 18 students who are attending in person learning and 5 students who are distance learning. I am doing this simultaneously. One of my students is doing distance learning from Florida. This is the email I sent.
Dear School Board Members,
I am hopeful that this board will reconsider their decision and extend Mrs. Sherwood’s contract as Superintendent/Principal for the entire 2021-22 school year. During the board’s second meeting on January 6th, Mr. Karplus stated that he would like a leadership transition plan. He stated that when someone is retiring from the Park (National Park Service) the Park will “start a year and a half before hand trying to get them to put things down so that their successor could be successful.” I also want Mrs. Sherwood’s successor to be successful. That is why I think it is imperative that the board follows Mr. Karplus’s words and allows Mrs. Sherwood the time to do just that. Please reconsider your vote and renew Mrs. Sherwood’s contract for the full 2021-22 school year.
In regard to Jami Beck’s letter:
Whereas Mr. Karplus seems to understand the value of allowing a year and a half to find a suitable replacement in the Park, his proposal seems to state that approximately 1/3 that time is good enough for finding a replacement for the superintendent’s position at our school . Such a proposal doesn’t sound like it’s in the best interest of our school and our community.
Not withstanding recent conflicts which, admittedly, I may not be aware of, (we almost always have one conflict or another in our small activist community), I do know that Sue has always put her heart and soul into our school. Whatever happens now, her legacy is secure. The only legacy yet to be secured, is OURS, as citizens of Three Rivers.