When the decision was made to run for the school board, I was not acquainted with anyone on the board. I attended board meetings in support of and while encouraging the students in their campaign for Mr. K. All the while Dee was attending board meetings for team uniforms and new textbooks. As a booster & a parent attending events at the HS –Dee, Anita and my paths had crossed many times.
At one point, Annette, her mom, Dee, her sisters and a few neighbors from throughout EA joined a group I organized campaigning to vote NO for the 131 referendums. Through these times, Dee & I realized both of us were contemplating a run for the school board.
Though, Dee & I have been lumped as one by our critics, we have only met socially once. We met for dinner with a couple of the newly elected board members prior to their being seated, last spring.
When I was the new person, I had been welcomed by a couple of the seasoned board members. Following their past practices, I did likewise. During dinner we chatted about the upcoming new board. We shared our hopes for 131 and our thoughts on the direction we’d like to see the board move. We all agreed we’d like to see change. Three of us strongly encouraged Dee to agree to accept the position of board president even when she was hesitant. The three of us expounded on why we felt she was the best option. Reluctantly, she conceded to our pleas, relying on the fact, she would have our continued support. She was nominated & elected, as were others, to the positions as we had all agreed would be a good fit & welcome change.
After a few months a fellow board member started a campaign to have Dee removed as Board President. This member relayed to me, she had political aspirations and felt she would be better suited as the board president. There were stories shared by this board member pointing to Dee as the reason for problems of information not being relayed that was cause for poor decisions being made by the board. Initially, many things were believed without being verified. It is easy when things are not going well, to look for a scapegoat to be the fault. I finally questioned this member of the specifics of the reasons Dee should be removed. She had no reasons relating to Dee’s performance of her duties.
Most of the reasons were relayed through rumors of things Dee purportedly had done.
She was specifically spiteful in comments of wanting Dee removed as president, before spring, so Dee would not be eligible to sign her son’s diploma. Seems she has continued to work towards this goal with the Resolution for Reorganization on this upcoming 131 board agenda.
