A little Petrilli v Silberman Update

The legal processes tick away in Petrilli v. Silberman.

Both parties are involved in depositions these days. A source tells KSN&C that Peggy Petrilli was deposed yesterday. Coming later this month...plaintiff's depositions of Jock Gum, Bob McLaughlin, Carmen Coleman and Stu Silberman.

Hey, wait a minute. Jock Gum?

Gum was not at BTWA at any point when - whatever - events occurred. But he followed Peggy Petrilli as principal at Booker T Washington Academy during the past year.

When you follow someone in a job it is always an interesting experience. You learn things from files and reports. You see how the building was organized and how business was conducted. Then, you map out your own path according to your goals and leadership style.

But what happens mostly....is that you begin to hear from people. Whatever complaints existed before are almost certain to come to the attention of the new principal - and much of it is second-hand and biased; although, not necessarily untrue.

My favorite Jock Gum semi-quote occured when a teacher at BTWA approached him - apparently prepared to unload her concerns and "help" Gum chart a new direction for the school. Jock reportedly said - something like - 'Wait a minute. I'm not a change agent. I'm just here for one year to keep the train on the tracks. You'll want to take that up with the next principal.'

Involving Gum in this case is an interesting choice. What does legal counsel hope his testimony will do? Establishing the climate at BTWA in the immediate aftermath of Petrilli's departure is one thing. But, I wonder. What else is hoped for?

It is surely the testimony of Directors Carmen Coleman and Bob McLaughlin that the district hopes to use to discredit Petrilli.

In Fayette County, directors are line-managers. Principals report directly to their directors. Principals and directors consult regularly on virtually all major issues. The relationship, in practice, is truly collegial and is, in large measure, built upon trust.

In fact, it's hard to imagine that much gets past a good director. They are the district firefighters. Whenever there is a complaint about a school, it goes to the director. Directors then bring the concerns back to the principal and they work together to resolve whatever issues exist.

If there are a lot of complaints about a school, the director knows it.

But while all that trusting is going on, the wise principal remembers that directors serve their superintendents - just as directly.