Veteran school leader to lose job

Helena Flats board won't budge on decision

Helena Flats School's small library was packed Tuesday night with a crowd disgruntled by a recent school board decision.

At its regular meeting in January, trustees voted not to renew the contract of Superintendent Paul Jenkins, a decision that stunned many in the school and the Helena Flats community.

"I question the reasoning behind the board decision," said Roschelle Todd, whose children attend Helena Flats School. "I challenge the board to convince me of the validity behind the decision that was made."

One audience member asked Jenkins if he knew why his contract was not renewed.

The reasons were outlined at the last regular board meeting, Jenkins said. He paused a moment before adding, "I don't necessarily agree with what was stated."

Although pressed by the crowd of about 30 parents, staff and community members, the board did not give details of the reasons for Jenkins' dismissal. Board chairman Erik Wenum explained that some reasons could not be shared because they are part of Jenkins' confidential personnel file.

Some reasons are public record, however.

At the January meeting, when trustees presented Jenkins with his annual superintendent's evaluation, Jenkins waived his right to privacy, allowing the meeting to remain open to the public.

Jenkins rated "below satisfactory" in each of the seven categories in the evaluation, Wenum said. In Jenkins' two previous evaluations in the past year - the most recent of which was in July 2008 - he also rated "below satisfactory" in every category.

Details of the evaluation are confidential and not part of the public record, District Clerk Tonnie Decker told the Inter Lake on Wednesday.

After the board discussed Jenkins' evaluation at the January meeting and heard from the 16 Helena Flats employees who spoke on the superintendent's behalf, trustees voted 4-1 not to renew Jenkins' contract. Shawn Boelman was the lone dissenting vote.

Several members of the audience on Tuesday said they were shocked by the decision. While Jenkins' evaluation had been listed on the meeting agenda, many people had no idea that Jenkins' job might be in jeopardy.

"You guys almost set yourself up for this," Kevin Fritz told the board. "If a superintendent has been here for 20 years, you don't expect something like this. You're not expecting that kind of decision."

Roxie Watkins agreed.

"I feel a little bit like Paul's had the rug pulled out from under his feet," she said.

But the decision was not made based on one night or one evaluation, trustees said.

Board member Emily Gillespie told the crowd that trustees had considered Helena Flats' standardized test scores, which she said have been declining over the last five years.

She also echoed Wenum's earlier statement that parents and community members, most of whom do not regularly attend school board meetings, were not aware of all the reasons for Jenkins' dismissal.

"If you're interested in the district, in children and in education, we welcome your involvement," Gillespie said. "But we need you interested in the whole time period, not just the final decision."

The Jenkins decision was final, Wenum said, despite more than one request from the crowd to reconsider it. In a letter read at the meeting, former eighth-grade teacher Carol Phillips suggested it was the board's relative inexperience that led to the decision. Wenum, who was elected to the board in May 2006, has served the longest.

Phillips cited several improvements at Helena Flats during Jenkins' 20-year tenure there, including implementing Montessori and gifted-and-talented programs and the school's recent expansion. Other audience members praised the bike paths around the school and Jenkins' rapport with students, staff and parents.

All but two people who spoke at Tuesday's meeting voiced support for Jenkins. One man, John Isles, said he would support whoever was best for his children. Another, Joe Krueger, said he supported the board's decision.

Wenum said he has heard from others who agree with Krueger.

"I have received phone calls supportive of our actions," he said. "It is both ways."

Jenkins' contract expires June 30.

The district has formed a hiring committee that will determine what Helena Flats is looking for in its new superintendent. Decker, Gillespie, trustee Jon Lowry and Helena Flats teachers Julie Fiske, Kathy Bachrach and Sally Newberry will serve on the committee.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com