Newton Faculty Feuds with Board
An Eyewitness Account
Shane Hoff
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
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Schultz was indefinitely suspended due to his teaching courses he was uncertified to teach. However, after staggering public support and weeks of teacher, student, and community protests, Schultz was reinstated to teach the courses which he had the correct certification to teach.
During the fateful Board Meeting on February 26, Superintendent Mark Miller said this grants Guy Schultz time. When the requirements are completed he may return to Newton High School.
After being reinstated, Schultz gazed at a crowd of over 200 attendees who stood applauding. He thanked them for all the support the community had given him but admitted there is a lot left to do.
"Nothing else can come close to touching this on the planet," said Schultz as he described what teaching meant to him.
Newton faculty have been without contracts since the start of their 2007-2008 school year. During the school board meeting of February 26th, the board members showed no signs of coming to an agreement.
"We're just so used to starting the school year with contracts," said a Newton High teacher who wished to remain anonymous. "It's been since June and we haven't received anything yet."
Without contracts, the teachers of Newton schools refused to participate in extra-curricular activities (such as proms, school dances, and extra help before and after school), but is this sending out the right message?
Tony Anne Lawler, a resident of Sussex County, seemed to think not. "Who are you spiting," asked Lawler during the public comment portion of the meeting. "It is the children you are spiting."
While there is no one individual to blame, the poor relationship between the faculty and board members became clearer through an analytical interpretation from C. Mikesell of Newton. Mikesell compared the relationship to a mid-divorce couple. The strains and quarrels don't affect them nearly as much as they affect the child, or in this case the students.
No mediation has been determined at the time of this writing, but a common theme reigns supreme among the countless speakers of that night. Put the students first. As Debbie Hannigan said, "Keep the students' education a priority."
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