School board members respond to accusations
Staff writer/Photographer
A letter asking for the resignation of Peabody-Burns USD 398 board of education president, Doe Ann Hague, was read and presented to that board of education at its March meeting last Wednesday.
Brad Stuhlsatz, a spokesman for the "Save Our School" committee based in Burns, read the letter charging the president of the board with misconduct and asking for her resignation.
Allegations made in the letter include violations of the Kansas open meeting law, attempted subversion of the democratic process in the board's decision making process, and public harassment of other board members.
Stuhlsatz, a photocopier technician and Burns resident for more than three years, and Tim Jenkins, another S.O.S. member, co-authored the letter with the help of other Burns residents, they said.
Stuhlsatz, Brent Miles, Lezlie Miles, Ivan Morgan, Margaret Morgan, Rodney Morgan, Lowell Larsen, Kayon Keene, and Heather Keene all signed the letter at the meeting when the board refused to hear it as long as it was an anonymous communication.
The letter alleges that Hague, in a taped conversation, can be heard continuing a board discussion after the adjournment of a special meeting in Burns in October 2001. The tape, which has not been reviewed by school officials, school board members, or this newspaper, could prove, or nor, to be a violation of the Kansas Open Meeting Act of 1974.
Stuhlsatz charges that Hague can be heard in a discussion with other board members. Stuhlsatz declined further comment on the specifics of the contents of the tape or when the tape came to the attention of the S.O.S. group. He would not identity the other voices on the tape and refused to comment on who is in possession of the tape.
Stuhlsatz did, however, comment that the S.O.S. committee is not happy with the overall treatment of the former Burns Grade School closing.
"It is very clear that the Peabody members are not listening to the Burns members and they are not listening to the Burns community," he said. "We want a school in Burns, but the Burns school closing is only part of a growing problem. Because Doe Ann and the other members are not listening, the situation has deteriorated."
"How can we not be listening?" responded board member Gary Jones. "We listen to them at every meeting. They talk and we listen."
Member Gilbert Loewen stated, "I know we've been listening. We hear how they feel, but we also know what we have to do based on the information we have with the financial situation."
Duke Eldrige, another board member, also responded to the allegation that the board doesn't listen. "No one from Burns has called me at home on the telephone to talk to me. Comments that are made in public forums are not question and answer sessions. I can't ask questions or make comments, but I do listen."
School board vice president Lou Anderson feels frustrated. "I think in many ways the board isn't listening, but this has been blown way out of proportion."
Stuhlsatz also is frustrated with the board trying to silence their right to free speech, alleging the subversion of the democratic right to be heard in public forum. "The school board had created a rift. We have tried to get on the agenda to be heard and no one would put us there," he said.
"They kept pushing us into the public forum portion of the meeting where the board doesn't have to discuss anything. There's no interaction. It's been blatant at regular meetings that they have ignored us," Stuhlsatz continued. "We are two communities making up one district. The board is not considering the long term impact of the decision to the district."
Stuhlsatz pointed out that the call for the school board president's resignation is not personal.
"I have nothing against Doe Ann as a person," he said. "I don't even know her. It's her actions as the president of the board that I have a problem with."
Brent Miles, mayor of Burns, also supports the letter. "I think she has done some things wrong," he said.
Members of the board were stunned at the letter being presented at the meeting, and most have pledged support for Hague who has no plans to resign at this time.
"Doe Ann has worked hard to be a good board member," stated Peggy Phillips, board member. "She has devoted a great deal of time and energy to the board."
Eldridge said he also supports Hague. "Doe Ann has my full support. She has worked hard as the president of the board."
Carolyn Koehn, board member from the Burns community said, "I am just sick of the whole thing. I don't want her to resign. We are trying to work to move on in the district and now we have to re-direct our energy again."
Anderson, also from Burns, was unhappy with the letter being presented to the board. "It was pretty harsh," he said. "I think there are better ways to present it, than the way it happened."
The letter points to moving forward in the district and that the trust, respect, and unity have been damaged and are endangered.
Stuhlsatz believes that the district cannot go forward as long as Hague is a part of the board. "The board refuses to think there's a problem or to do anything about it," he said.
Eldridge also is worried about the future of the district and said, "The bad part is, with all of this, people that might be thinking of moving into either of our communities will look at all of this and go the other way. Then we all lose."
