Reply to RSCC office staff

Forum Index » Preschool and Daycare Discussion

Reply to "RSCC office staff"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Eboardman]Dear RSCC Community:
I want to post information about my recent departure from RSCC for the benefit of the entire school community. Please note that this is the first time that I am posting on this thread.
For the past six years I have been Program Director for the RSCC community where I was reminded on a daily basis, as I saw and worked with RSCC children and families, what a gift it was to be involved in the care and development of your beautiful children. 
As you might expect, my tenure at RSCC has been full of learning experiences, overcoming obstacles and professional growth.  Over the summer, however, I was told by the School’s President that I would be no longer allowed to have contact with families outside of normal school hours or events. This was new and it appears that it was being directed only to me and not to all directors and school administrators. 
I told the President and Executive Director that I did not agree with this policy as I felt as if the community atmosphere that we are constantly promoting can only be strengthened when families feel a real connection with the administration and school as a whole. I also felt singled out as this policy appeared to have been directed only at me.  I brought the issue up with Executive Director who appeared to agree with me that if this was to be a policy, it should be approved by the school Board of Directors. Two months went by without any further discussion about this issue.
On August 16, 2011 I had my annual review. Prior to the review, I was sent an email from the President stating I would be getting my full 3% raise. Upon entering the review, where I was told by both the School’s President and Executive Director that my performance was excellent, I was performing my job in a professional and efficient manner and that I had made great improvements on the minor struggles that had been raised at last year’s review. We also had a discussion about relationships with families outside of the school setting; I stated then, as I had previously, that I believed that if this was to be School policy it should be approved by the Board and applied to the whole administration.  The School’s President said he disagreed and we had a discussion about this disagreement until we agreed to adjourn the meeting until the following week.  
After that discussion, I began to feel like my employment at RSCC might be jeopardy and I sought counsel to help see if we could mediate the situation and to provide me with an advocate at that meeting. My attorney contacted the School’s President and requested that the remainder of my review be postponed a week so that he could have time to get up to speed on the issue and be present during the meeting. He was told that there was no need for counsel to be at the meeting as it was simply a continuation of the review and was an internal process. Acting in good faith, I agreed and attended the meeting. 
Upon entering the meeting on August 23, 2011, I was told by the School’s President and Executive Director that he and the Executive Director believed we had reached a professional crossroads. I asked if this meant that they were firing me. They asked me to leave the room so they might talk and, upon my return, the School’s President said that they did not see a way past this issue and that I was, in fact, being terminated.  
The School’s President asked me what I thought was the best way to handle this situation.  My suggestion was to continue my employment for a finite period of time while I looked for another job. This would allow for a smooth transition for the school and would not create a detrimental lapse of employment on my record.  I was then asked to leave the room again and when I returned, the School’s President said that they felt like it was not possible for me to remain an active employee as they felt like our relationship would only get worse from that point forward.  I was terminated effective immediately.  The School’s President then mentioned that a letter would be sent to the families about my departure; to which I stated that I did not want a letter sent without my approval. That afternoon a letter was sent without my having seen it. 
I have been with RSCC in total over 7 years and have been privileged to have had an important role in the development of this fine institution.  
Since my termination I have feelings of loss at not having daily interactions with the children and families at RSCC.  My abrupt departure did not allow closure for me, and I believe parents and most importantly, the children. While we are still in the process of dealing with this situation on a legal level, it appears to me that the lack of transparency about this matter and the situation that has led to my having been terminated could adversely affect RSCC.  
My experience has been that RSCC has been an institution composed of people who care deeply about the RSCC children and families, the mission of the school and the professional development and personal growth of its teachers.  RSCC, in my experience has created a lifelong love of learning in the next generation of leaders, politicians, fireman and ballerinas. 
I believe that parents should be aware of the circumstances surrounding my leaving, especially the Board. 
I believe I have left RSCC a little better then when I started. I would love to be in contact with families and am available to offer any sort of “goodbye” that you feel your family or child may need. 
My personal email address is elizabethpboardman@gmail.com. 
Take care,
Betsy         
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics