We are all waiting to hear.

Anonymous wrote:I like the current directors. I know there are many parents out there that believe these issues are not for our discussion and have other interests to attend to, but hope they can realize that many of the parents are genuinely interested in the school and the school’s issues because the school is a place that also raises and teaches our children. The teachers and staff spend more time with our children during the week then we do. We invest large sums of money, for some families, a parent’s entire paycheck, to care for, teach, love, inspire, challenge, and prepare our children. For me, Betsy epitomized that role. So do the other teachers, which is why we are staying.

In the end, Betsy’s termination will remain an employee issue that will be resolved internally and we will all move on from this. I’m guessing in a few weeks, when we enter the crazy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Holiday time, this drama will all become a distant memory. I hope that we can all agree on wishing Betsy the best life has to offer, a fulfilling new career, amends for any tarnished reputation, closure on the events that happened, and mending of broken relationships.

I agree with every word, especially the part quoted. I like the current office staff very much, think the teachers are wonderful, and genuinely feel that my child is well cared for. That said, I'm very sad to see Betsy go and would like to know why, if true, another office staff member (mentioned before the posts were deleted) was allowed to freely associate at a significant life event with families, if the policy is no associating outside of school hours (and why should that be the case, anyway?)

I agree this will become a memory, but it's left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth that won't be easy to eliminate. If anyone knows if this was addressed at the Board meeting last night, I'd be interested to hear.

Sigh….14 public pages on a topic that could have been avoided had there been some checks, balances and governance between the board and office. If the president was not also the board director, I’m guessing this issue of Betsy associating with outside families would have never been made public. The parties involved would have stated their case and a fair outcome could have been made, i.e., Betsy keeps her job and employee handbook is updated regarding policy for outside family association that applies to all employees in a directorial position. Whether you agree or disagree with the handling of this situation and whose business it is, I think we can all agree that an organization that has no oversight places itself in jeopardy. What happens if the president’s actions are considered egregious?

So I’m sad. Sad that this school I love has gone down this venomous path. A school that started out by expressing its overwhelming desire for community, involvement, and outreach is now positioning itself as a place where don’t ask, don’t question, don’t associate, don’t comment has become its motto. A place where fear of backlash is worse than the outcome itself. I’m sad that my desire to be involved has diminished. I’ve lost something here too. No, I’m not taking my child out because I still like the facility, the teachers, the location, and the curriculum. I like the current directors. I know there are many parents out there that believe these issues are not for our discussion and have other interests to attend to, but hope they can realize that many of the parents are genuinely interested in the school and the school’s issues because the school is a place that also raises and teaches our children. The teachers and staff spend more time with our children during the week then we do. We invest large sums of money, for some families, a parent’s entire paycheck, to care for, teach, love, inspire, challenge, and prepare our children. For me, Betsy epitomized that role. So do the other teachers, which is why we are staying.

In the end, Betsy’s termination will remain an employee issue that will be resolved internally and we will all move on from this. I’m guessing in a few weeks, when we enter the crazy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Holiday time, this drama will all become a distant memory. I hope that we can all agree on wishing Betsy the best life has to offer, a fulfilling new career, amends for any tarnished reputation, closure on the events that happened, and mending of broken relationships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

Yeah, it actually is the same.

Really? The checkout girl at the grocery store has a meaningful relationship with your children and contributes to decisions that affect their education?

I'd love to hear what happens at the Board meeting..

The "office staff" has a meaningful relationship with your children? OK, I see the board's point in thinking it was inappropriate if that's the case.

This is a business, and personnel decisions are usually at the discretion of the management team. That makes is the same in terms of the analogy being made, but you certainly did clear things up on why she was likely fired. Thanks for making that point.

Sigh. If you don't see the difference between a director of a learning institution and the checkout person at the grocery store, in terms of their ability to contribute to your child's development, I can't help you. A number of posters here have mentioned that their kids would miss her.

Nothing you have said entitles you to know internal personnel decisions a business makes. Just because your kids like the person, or you do, doesn't entitle you to know why someone was let go or quit or whatever. You are a consumer of a service. That's all. If you want to know more, try to get involved on the board. If not, you need to come to terms with the fact that this institution does not owe you an explanation as to why they made a personnel decision any more than the grocery store owes you an explanation as to why they made a decision about a clerk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

Yeah, it actually is the same.

Really? The checkout girl at the grocery store has a meaningful relationship with your children and contributes to decisions that affect their education?

I'd love to hear what happens at the Board meeting..

The "office staff" has a meaningful relationship with your children? OK, I see the board's point in thinking it was inappropriate if that's the case.

This is a business, and personnel decisions are usually at the discretion of the management team. That makes is the same in terms of the analogy being made, but you certainly did clear things up on why she was likely fired. Thanks for making that point.

Sigh. If you don't see the difference between a director of a learning institution and the checkout person at the grocery store, in terms of their ability to contribute to your child's development, I can't help you. A number of posters here have mentioned that their kids would miss her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

Yeah, it actually is the same.

Really? The checkout girl at the grocery store has a meaningful relationship with your children and contributes to decisions that affect their education?

I'd love to hear what happens at the Board meeting..

The "office staff" has a meaningful relationship with your children? OK, I see the board's point in thinking it was inappropriate if that's the case.

This is a business, and personnel decisions are usually at the discretion of the management team. That makes is the same in terms of the analogy being made, but you certainly did clear things up on why she was likely fired. Thanks for making that point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

Yeah, it actually is the same.

Really? The checkout girl at the grocery store has a meaningful relationship with your children and contributes to decisions that affect their education?

I'd love to hear what happens at the Board meeting..

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

Yeah, it actually is the same.

There's a board meeting tonight. Anyone going to try to go?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As for the Board, I discussed this issue with Board members rather than venting anonymously on the internet. I suggest that anyone who actually wants a discussion or answers do the same.

Would you be willing to share the gist of their position? My family is fairly new to the school and I don't feel comfortable approaching them directly at this point. I'm not taking sides but I'd really love to hear their position though I know legally they probably can't post it here. I think it would help to both appease angry parents and to remedy some of the damage to the school's reputation that the debate is causing.

Under the circumstances, I don't think it is appropriate for me to speak for the administration or try to summarize what they told me. I don't think it would be a good idea for them to discuss a HR decision in a forum like this and so I don't think I should try to do it for them. I really think you have no reason to fear asking someone in the office, notwithstanding the vague and anonymous things you read here. I've asked and no one threatened me and I've seen others ask too.

Anonymous wrote:I strongly disagree that the terminated employee did not play favorites with children and families. She absolutely did and even my child noticed it. I also have heard her gossip about families and much of what she had to say was not nice at all. I wonder what some of her defenders would say if they knew what she was saying behind their backs.

As for the Board, I discussed this issue with Board members rather than venting anonymously on the internet. I suggest that anyone who actually wants a discussion or answers do the same. And before a poster once again makes vague allegations of threats to be kicked out for raising concerns, I'd note that several other posters on this board have responded to those posts with requests for information, which has not be provided. But back to the board and others in the office, I understand that in situations like this there are limits as to what can be said, especially when the terminated employee is making threats of legal action (involving a lawyer even before she was fired according to her own post - which is odd and suggests that there is much she isn't saying). The whole thing is strange because I always understood that in Maryland you can be fired for almost any reason so I'm not sure what it gets her even if her firing was "unfair" or people disagree with it. But whatever. When people are fired at my office I'm not entitled to the nitty gritty details and I don't see this situation as any different. Kudos to the administration for remaining professional throughout all this.

As for gossiping, the other long-time director does it all the time and I've heard talking shit about people behind their backs on many occasions. I'm not saying this is ok, it's not at all ok. However, Betsy was singled out in this situation. Simply put, the board president and CEO calls all the shots and does as he pleases with nobody to answer to, socializes with with families, plays favorites, and receives free childcare for his chidren. As I stated, the other director behaves unprofessionally and inappropriately too. The leadership of the school is corrupt and self-serving. The teachers are the ones who care, definitely not the administration, with one exception- the African American director. She's great, no complaints with her whatsoever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As for the Board, I discussed this issue with Board members rather than venting anonymously on the internet. I suggest that anyone who actually wants a discussion or answers do the same.

Would you be willing to share the gist of their position? My family is fairly new to the school and I don't feel comfortable approaching them directly at this point. I'm not taking sides but I'd really love to hear their position though I know legally they probably can't post it here. I think it would help to both appease angry parents and to remedy some of the damage to the school's reputation that the debate is causing.

Under the circumstances, I don't think it is appropriate for me to speak for the administration or try to summarize what they told me. I don't think it would be a good idea for them to discuss a HR decision in a forum like this and so I don't think I should try to do it for them. I really think you have no reason to fear asking someone in the office, notwithstanding the vague and anonymous things you read here. I've asked and no one threatened me and I've seen others ask too.

Anonymous wrote:Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

So you're taking your kid/s out of RSCC?

Not the same!

But yes, I stop going places that fire staff I like and value. And yes, I make the management aware of the reasons why.

So if you're shopping at the grocery store, and you notice that your favorite check out person isn't there anymore, do you start a thread on here demanding that the upper management at Giant account for their personnel decisions? Because you shop there, you are deserving of notice of all things personnel?
If you're at the Toys R Us, getting your children toys for Christmas, and whoops, I don't see "Nancy" my favorite person who always tells me the best ideas for my child's age, where is she? Do you go the Toys R Us management and demand to know why she isn't there? Do you go on their website and pull up all of their particulars and argue with them over their internal policies?