Ethics and character questions continue to surround Kentucky's new Commissioner of Education, Barbara Erwin, and her peculiar way of conducting business "in good faith." And some folks in St Charles, Illinois have had enough.
On Monday, Kentucky School News and Commentary asked two questions:
Does Barbara Erwin know what it means to act in good faith?
How is it possible for Erwin, in good faith, to tell the Kentucky Board of Education that she will start her job as commissioner on July 16th, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, telling the St Charles Board of Education that she will be their superintendent until August 4th?
But that's what she did.
Here's the history:
In October 2006, Erwin told the St Charles board that she would retire on August 4th 2007.
The Kentucky State Board of Education ratified - and Barbara Erwin signed - her contract on May 9 in Bowling Green, during a closed session.
A copy of the contract obtained last week by Kentucky School News and Commentary and independently verified by the Kane County Chronicle shows the signatures of Erwin and Kentucky Board of Education Chairman Keith Travis, and a notation of the date “5/9/07.”
“She had already received and signed that portion of the contract a week-and-a-half, two-weeks prior, and all that was left for the board was to ratify that contract,” Travis said. “She was present; she was in part of our closed session. After we finished that, we asked her to be excused, we deliberated, then signed it around 1:30 in the afternoon.”
As of the moment she signed, she had every reason to expect that her first day in Kentucky would be July 16th.
But that's not what she told the folks in St Charles.
As recently as May 23, Erwin gallantly reaffirmed that her last day in St Charles would be Aug. 4 and said, “I signed a contract in good faith with the board, that’s my comment.”
However, in a letter to St Charles board chair Kathy Hewell (received May 25), Erwin said she would leave on July 13th, three weeks earlier than previously planned.
Hewell said (what we suppose she was told), “The date changed based on the fact that [Erwin] received her signed contract shortly before she sent this letter.”
Shortly before? Erwin knew more than a week before her May 9th meeting in Kentucky! Hewell told the Kane County Chronicle she would release the letter with Erwin’s approval.
On Tuesday May 29, the St Charles District 303 Board of Education met in closed session where the other St Charles board members, first became aware of Erwin’s change in plans.
Due to the Kane County State's attorney's pending investigation into Erwin's contract irregularities, board members have remained tight-lipped on the issue.
But one board member did acknowledge his frustration. “This has been a difficult time for everyone, frustrating, this whole business,” board member Chris Hansen said.
Hansen has every right to be frustrated. And public reaction in St Charles is growing.
The Kane County Chronicle's news editor Dan Campana called for Erwin to pack up sooner rather than later. His article, "Barb: It’s time to pack your bags and go" calls for a clean break with the district so that the new superintendent - the one they hope will patch up what's presently borken - can make a clean start. As he sees it, the only person who benefits from Erwin sticking around past June 30th - is Erwin.
"Anyone who’s ever quit a job, or “retired” from one, knows the last week is all about cleaning up and getting out – with some work and a party likely mixed in.
So, what’s accomplished out of these two weeks? Another paycheck earned and 85 days in your pension, that’s what.
...Coming off a tenure in St. Charles where ill-will has blossomed like spring flowers, Erwin should take some time for herself."
Other citizens have also weighed in.
"myidea" wrote:
" See Ya! I hope the money from the 85 sick days stays with the state of Illinois for more than 5 teachers paid sick days for the year! "
"AreYouKiddingMe" wrote:
" We have a competent superintendent starting July 1, why do we need 2 on the payroll? Good luck Kentucky, seems the "oops I forgot to mention" has even begun before a job was started. Shame on the school board for not sharing the date change at the public school board meeting on Tuesday 5/29 if they knew 5/25 of a change. It's time to do the right thing by the taxpayers of this district and say goodbye before our new superintendent joins the team. "
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Erwin is done in St Charles - whenever the date. But this is Kentucky's new commissioner. The real question is: What is the Kentucky Board of Education thinking?
Resume padding?
Character lapses?
Bad faith barganing?
They have "cause" if they want it.
They can dismiss with 90-days notice without cause, and perhaps that's the best route. No harm, no foul. Pay her something for her trouble and be done with it.
What's it going to take for our board to reassess this selection? Are any members concerned? Are members talking to each other even now?
And if the board fails to act - what then? They sure won't be able to claim they didn't see trouble coming.
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