Hiring principals

It is admirable that public comment was sought in the recent principal-hiring processes around the district. However, many will not participate until and unless Robinson and his crew have moved on and a fresh, trustworthy superintendent is in charge. This is because there are parents who have worked for positive change for this district who believe they could harm the chances of a perfectly capable candidate by participating in the process and noting positive attributes of this or that candidate. In other words, those seen as in the "enemy camp" by Robinson's crew, might well give a candidate the mark of Cain by appearing to support them. Rather than risk doing that, there are parents abstaining from the process.

Some may see this as paranoid, but it is a real fear to some parents, and I can see their point. It is nice that Steve Kelley works to involve parents and the community now. The problem is, it won't work because there is too much water under the bridge, too much distrust, too many attempts to intimidate and silence teachers with opposing viewpoints, and too much condescension to parents with concerns.

Kelley is probably trying to save his own future in Lebanon by taking steps to involve community in ways that might have been successful years ago, before so much negative history was made. (Is it sad or what that LCSD needs a legal ruling to tell Robinson he can't order staff to talk only to their bosses about concerns or questions and not to exercise their constitutional right to free speech by talking with elected school board members?). Good grief, Charlie Brown.