Whittell teachers deny they held 'sick-out'

MINDEN - Whittell High School teachers, facing suspension without pay, denied during hearings this week that they orchestrated their absences on Oct. 30, 2003.

Questioned by Randy Cahill of the Nevada State Education Association, the teachers rebutted claims they were part of a "concerted effort" or participated in meetings to organize the absences.

Eleven of the school's 17 teachers were absent on a day in which all classes were to be observed for the district's "Data In a Day" program.

What the teachers say was coincidence, school officials believe was an organized effort to undermine Principal Janie Gray, who was in her first year at the Lake Tahoe high school.

Some veteran teachers have said morale was at an all-time low under Gray's administration.

The school district presented its side in December before Department of Education hearing officer Wayne S. Chimarusti, a Carson City lawyer.

Teacher John Houghton testified Thursday that he falsified his absence Oct. 30, 2003, but was not part of an organized protest.

Houghton, who teaches band and chorus at Whittell and Kingsbury Middle school and is a 16-year district veteran, apologized.

"I need to apologize to everybody for doing something I shouldn't have done," Houghton said.

He said he been on jury duty for 2 1/2 weeks and was exhausted and demoralized by the outcome.

The district is recommending that six of the seven teachers be suspended without pay for three weeks and the seventh be suspended without pay for two weeks.

Teacher Steve Vaughn, who's been at Whittell for eight years, said he was absent Oct. 30, 2003, because of a flare-up of chronic back pain.

Vaughn testified that he has 196 unused sick days and considers the benefit a privilege. He also denied being absent to avoid the "Data in a Day" evaluation.

"I didn't consider it particularly important," he said. "Every day's an important day for me to be at school. I didn't consider it one way or another."

Jasmine Gouveia, who has transferred to Douglas High School, served as the teachers' association representative at Whittell. She also is vice president of the Douglas County Professional Education Association.

Gouveia said on Oct. 1, 2003, she and Vaughn presented Gray with a list of concerns from teachers about the principal's management style.

"The meeting lasted abut five minutes," Gouveia said. "Ms. Gray had no response when she tossed the list to one side."

Gouveia said the next day, Superintendent John Soderman was at the school with the list and said he would address it with Gray.

"The faculty was satisfied," Gouveia said. "Mr. Soderman has shown in the past he takes our concerns seriously."

Gouveia, who was absent Oct. 30, 2003, said she was suffering from an aggravated back injury incurred while she was disposing of 100 pounds of plastic and aluminum for the school's recycling program.

Like the other teachers, she denied being part of an organized effort or having prior knowledge that so many teachers would be out. In addition to Houghton, Vaughn and Gouveia, the other teachers facing suspension are Larry Reilly, Jeremy Smith, James Hynes and counselor Karen Boulet.

Chimarusti has 30 days to forward his findings to the Douglas County school board.

- Sheila Gardner can be reached at sgardner@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 214.