'Don't Fire Our Teacher,' Say Parents to the HSD Board of Education

The March 22 (HSD) Board of Education meeting began just like any other, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The board acknowledged the great accomplishment of Antoine Wright, the wrestler who won his weight class at the 81st Missouri State Wrestling Championships. Wright received a standing ovation as he and his family entered the room, and Superintendent Dr. Steve Price, a wrestler in his high school days, said a few words.

School-performance monitoring reports then followed. Some schools did well and others showed great attempts at improving. , however was notable as it exceeded the school district and state levels on every MAP Performance Index (MPI) score for each monitored grade level except fourth-grade communications arts. In that area, the school was one point below state levels, but still above district levels. Grade levels and subjects monitored include third through fifth-grade communications arts and math, along with fifth-grade science.

But during patron participation, something occurred that isn't always seen at these board meetings. Parents spoke in support of Amanda Bell-Greenaugh, a teacher whose contract with the district will not be renewed.

"It has recently come to our attention that our daughter's teacher will no longer be her teacher, and basically, we just want to know why," said Corey Smith, who attended the meeting with his wife Renee. "We implore the school board to let us know why this teacher will not be back."

"We've been parents of the Hazelwood School District for seven years," Renee said. "It's just very concerning to me because as a public school, as a district, we can't pick the students we have. And this school has a lot of challenges, and I understand that. But this teacher shines, and we can pick who we want to teach our students."

Belita Lee is another parent who spoke in opposition of the release of said teacher.

"We moved into the district October '07, (and) my daughter was going down," she said. "She was a bright student but the school wasn't offering a lot, so when we moved into the Hazelwood School District this particular teacher that she had, she came to me and asked for my permission to push to test my daughter for the GALACTIC program, because she thought she (my daughter) would excel.

GALACTIC is a state funded program for identified gifted students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It provides differentiated instructional programs which accommodates higher cognitive processes and concepts, as well as teaching methods for these students.

Lee said she doesn't understand why this teacher is being fired adding that she doesn't fit the description of a teacher not deserving contract renewal.

"(Her actions don't) show a person that doesn't care," Lee said. "To me we need more teachers like that, that sees things in students and wants to help them excel."

Lee said because of that teacher helping her daughter, she is still in GALACTIC and is still a straight-A student.

Kenya Walls was another concerned parent at the meeting. Walls said she would more than likely move out of the district because of the teacher's release.

"This teacher has my first-grade daughter reading on a third-grade level doing third-grade math, and third-grade writing," she said. "This teacher is excellent. She takes my breath away. She's on top of it.

"I'm really disappointed that her contract is up, (and) if she is removed from the school, I know I'm moving out of the district, because I feel like I don't have any faith left in the district anymore."

Walls also mentioned an incident that occurred where she said a student threatened her daughter. The teacher was the only person to call her to see if her daughter was OK, Wells said.

Diana Gulotta, the HSD assistant superintendent for communications said the district takes the parents' feelings on the matter seriously.

"We appreciate the parents’ opinions and involvement in our schools," she said. "The district follows all employment laws when making decisions about hiring, firing and nonrenewing employees."

On a lighter note, another resident, Tamika Johnson, stepped forward with her appreciation for the district.

"I've had four students to go through HSD," she said. "I've had a wonderful experience, my kids' grades have improved...and I'd just like to say thank you for being there for my kids."

The board of education continued with the meetings agenda items which included acceptance of gifts given to various school within the district.

• The Assistance League of St. Louis donated a washer and dryers to Twillman Middle School.

• Gordon Bush, Faye Tharp and Fayetta Page donated books to Hazelwood East High School.

• Nestle Puring Petcare donated 12 Dell laptops to McCurdy Elementary School.

Following the close of the public session, the board went into its second executive session of the night. Following executive session, the board approved the following agenda items during open session.

• It approved teacher's contracts both probationary and tenured. According to Gulotta, per Missouri’s teacher tenure law, teachers are considered probationary for their first five years, and as such, have one-year contracts. After serving five years, they receive a permanent (or tenured) teacher’s contract. 

• Salary Schedules for HSD employees including administrators, bus drivers, food service, nurses, bus aides and teachers among others, were approved for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year. Gulotta said a pay increase was approved. 

• A union agreement was reached with the district's food service workers. Gulotta said the school board approved this agreement with the food service workers, which the Service Employees International Union represents. It is their collective bargaining agreement.

Gulotta said in the end, the board approved the recommendation not to re-new the contracts of a list probationary teachers presented, which included the aforementioned teacher.