‘Just the facts’ Whitesell?
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Editor,
After reading the article in the Lake County Leader dated March 3, 2011 entitled, “Battle Rages on, Hendrickson Supporters Unite While BOE, Superintendent Continues to Take Heat,” I was confused regarding Mr. Whitesell’s comments.
Mr. Whitesell stated, “At the school board meeting I saw three or four teachers, two from the high school. I saw two students. And I saw friends and classmates of Mr. Hendrickson’s. I don’t think that reflects the community in its entirety.”
Not only is this statement false, it is entirely misleading. I attended the Feb. 14 school board meeting and would like to present the facts.
At the meeting approximately one hundred individuals were in attendance, 31 of which spoke in support of Mr. Hendrickson. None of the close to 100 in attendance spoke in relation or agreement to support the nonrenewal recommendations by Mr. Whitesell and Mr. Hankins “without cause.” Fourteen individuals in attendance at the meeting are current PHS and school district staff. Ten students from PHS attended.
Addressing the “friends and classmates” comments, Mr. Whitesell appears to have absently disregarded the fact that these friends and former classmates have children, nieces and nephews that are students within the school district. Not to mention the almost 35 students at PHS who protested supporting their vice principal Shawn Hendrickson outside the doors of PHS on Feb. 23.
If the numbers mentioned above and validated from the video coverage by KPAX on the night of Feb. 14 don’t represent the community in its entirety than the total absence of individuals that chose not to stand up to support Mr. Whitesell and Mr. Hankins recommendations don’t either.
Mr. Vernon Finley, a school board member stated that night that “there were some complaints from parents and staff.” So does the “without cause” statement and recommendation to non-renew the contract of Mr. Hendrickson really mean “without cause?” So do these few people also represent the “community in its entirety?”
What Mr. Whitesell left out of consideration when making his comments; thirty educational staff were in Missoula that night for prescheduled work-related meetings. A local basketball game took place that night. Basketball practices were being held that evening and some staff members were teaching at SKC. Oh, and let’s not forget it being the evening of Valentine's Day. Would all of these individuals have been in attendance that evening?
Maybe, but to make a comment about representing the community “in its entirety” is reckless when the meeting was scheduled having the predetermined foresight to limit as much public participation as possible.
Mr. Whitesell states he only saw three or four teachers and two students that evening? Broaches the question as to whether or not Mr. Whitesell actually knows who and who is not on staff at PHS?
If he would have had the intestinal fortitude to look at the people addressing him and the school board that evening he may have seen more.
We are surrounded by great teachers and staff members who spend more time with our kids in this community than we do at times. Experiencing their care and encouragement for our kids dealing with social and educational challenges and trusting them to handle it as we would as parents and family members is why we want to raise our kids here. I have a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for the educators that are here for the kids within our school district.
Mr. Shawn Hendrickson is one of these educators and I implore this community to educate itself and stay involved so we don’t lose anymore.
Marcy Smith
Polson
