EDITOR:
I write these comments in response to an article titled "Superintendent Under Fire." My first meeting with Superintendent Carol Lark was over a year ago when the KIDS committee was formed to help pass the School Bond. Mrs. Lark showed herself to be a true leader, able to deal with the various factions represented on the committee. As the time when on I overheard some negative comments and innuendos from one or two district level administrators - both at the KIDS meetings and the few school board meetings I attended.
What I observed and was able to verify was that Mrs. Lark, in her brief tenure as superintendent: Has presided over the doubling of the alternative education program; Brought the Boys & Girls Club into the schools; Effectively dealt with the radon situation; Overseen the overall rise of student achievement; The closing of a school; Shown her leadership skills while presiding over the district during one of the worst budget crises in the district's history.
As a former assistant superintendent of a large southern California high school district, I am very familiar with some of these types of issues. Also in my prior life, I was a U.S. Marine Corps officer. Both these jobs called for leadership and support from my subordinates.
It is deplorable that after Mrs. Lark, as superintendent, makes a decision and is trying to rally the troops and public support that dissension and squabbling still continues at the highest level. In the military and when I worked in education if this were to happen I would reassign these individuals back to the school site or ask for some resignations. If these people think they can do a better job, then they should apply for the job when it opens, but not undermine the current superintendent. Maybe they did apply and were not selected for a good reason. Maybe the school board should stop playing politics and try backing their current superintendent.
Dave Rich
Gardnerville
