THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603090128
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 201 lines
Since the release of the special grand jury report March 6, five School Board members have announced their resignations and one has announced she will not run for election. Before the report's release, board members Susan L. Creamer and Robert W. Hall had resigned from the board. Tim Jackson has announced he plans to remain on the board. Ferdinand V. Tolentino has not made an announcement, but he did not file to run for his seat in the May election.
The following are the letters of resignation submitted by six of the board members:
D. Linn Felt
(Feb. 29)
Dear Madam Chairman:
While I flatly deny malfeasance on my part as a Board Member, the Grand Jury's Report makes it impossible for me to remain on the Board. I volunteered for the Board to improve public education in Virginia Beach, not to play politics. I worked hard to support our mission statement, which I helped author, and believe that I succeeded to some degree.
Please accept my resignation effective March 20, 1996. This date should allow time for City Council to appoint replacements for me and the others who have resigned, maintain a quorum, and allow for an orderly transition for new Board members.
Ulysses V. Spiva
(Feb. 29)
Once again our city finds itself embroiled in senseless turmoil and petty politics. This time it surrounds one of the things dear to my heart - a high quality public education system for our children.
When I was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board in May of 1994, I already knew that the six newly elected board members and their five colleagues, who were appointed by the City Council, were facing a momentous task and an up-hill struggle from day one. A multi-million-dollar/multi-year contract had been signed with Servicemaster in the fall of 1993, and it was not in the 1993-94 operating budget. At least two buildings had been leased and/or purchased from operating funds but were not in the 1993-94 budget.
The City Council had given the previous board and superintendent a lump-sum appropriation instead of appropriating the funds into the four major categories, as approved in the state code. There were air-quality problems in several new buildings so severe that it was affecting the health and welfare of students. The council was reducing the Board's proposed budget each year by millions of dollars, although the enrollments were increasing very significantly and new school buildings were being opened to students each year. Funding was so bad during the 1993-94 school year that the previous board and the superintendent had taken money from the enterprise funds (reserve funds for textbooks and the cafeterias) to cover a significant shortfall in the 1993-94 budget. Morale among the faculty and staff was declining because these problems were affecting the system's ability to purchase appropriate teaching materials and equipment and to provide adequate salary increases.
There are numerous letters and video tapes of board meetings to prove that I did all I could do legally to bring these problems to the attention of the City Council, fellow board members, and the citizens of Virginia Beach. More than 60 percent of my time over the past twenty months has been spent trying to help resolve these problems, plus any new problems the school system must face in order to be ready for thousands of additional students the system must serve when the Oceana project is in place.
I have not minded the time spent in seemingly endless meetings due to these problems and many others. That was par for the course. To have a panel of citizens and the Commonwealth's Attorney, Bob Humphreys, along with several members of the City Council, call for the board members' resignations with such harsh and demeaning language, however, is beyond the pail. It is like the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. It is ``the unkindest cut of all,'' to paraphrase a line from Shakespeare. Therefore, I have decided to resign from the Virginia Beach School Board, effective Wednesday, March 20, 1996. I thank all of the citizens who have given me an opportunity to serve.
Elsie M. Barnes
(March 3)
I have decided to resign from the Virginia Beach School Board effective March 20, 1996. I do not concur with the Grand Jury's assessment of the Board's performance. However, I would not like for this matter to continue to divert attention from the educational processes for children. I leave the Board the way I came, with unwavering support for public education in Virginia Beach. I thank the citizens for the opportunity to serve.
Joseph D. Taylor II
(March 4)
Dear Mrs. Kernutt:
It is with much sadness and disappointment that I notify you of my forced resignation effective May 7, 1996. Although the Grand Jury's finding of malfeasance is totally unfair and refutable, I must do what is in the best interest of our city and our great school system to move us all in a healing direction. I will serve through May 7 to help our new superintendent through this time of transition.
As a native of Virginia Beach, I love this city and have always been desirous to volunteer my time, as thousands of others do, to make our city the best place to live. In 1994, I chose the School Board as an avenue to contribute my time and effort, hoping to make a small impact on the education of our most precious resource, our children. I will leave in May knowing that I have made a difference. The many long hours and late nights away from my family and my business have been worth it. Despite the ugly, demoralizing rhetoric of the Grand Jury, I hold my head high.
I am confident that our Virginia Beach City Public School System will continue to grow and prosper. With the quality leadership of our new superintendent, Dr. Tim Jenney, and the unwavering, outstanding performance of our teachers and administrators, our success will prevail.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the School Board during this painful period.
June T. Kernutt
(March 4)
Dear Tim (Jenney):
It is with deep regret and sadness that I write this letter. The events of the past few days have led me to make a difficult decision. While my strong personal desire is to fight to clear my name, I must, as always, put the welfare of the school division ahead of my own. Therefore, I will resign from the Virginia Beach School Board effective May 7, 1996. This will allow time for a smooth transition.
My greatest fear is that those people who have asked me to stay and fight on will feel that I have let them down. It is precisely because of my love for them and the school division that I feel I must leave. My faith in God and the loving support of my extraordinary family and friends have made this difficult decision at least bearable.
Tim, I am deeply sorry that I will not have the opportunity to work with you as I had hoped. Please know, though, that as the mother of two sons in public school, I will always be on your ``team.'' I have every confidence in you and know that you will lead the Virginia Beach school system to its greatest days.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to have served the children of this city for over four years. I am proud of the many accomplishments that I have been a part of during that time, especially during my tenure as Chairman. Despite this difficult time, I am so grateful for the friends that I have made here and for the opportunity that I have been given for personal growth. Therefore, I will leave with my head held high knowing that I have been truly blessed.
Karen O'Brien
(March 5)
Madam Chairwoman, fellow Board Members, Dr. Jenney, Administration and Faculty - I appreciate this opportunity to advise you formally of a personal decision and will try not to unduly trespass on your time.
As a member of this board, I appreciate the trust and confidence that the Circuit Court judges had in me when they honored me with their appointment to this body. I have done all that was physically possible to prove that I deserved this trust and confidence. After examining my performance I hope that both they and the citizens of our city will agree that I have successfully fulfilled my obligation. I have cherished the twelve months that I have been involved in the exciting task of providing a quality education opportunity for the young people of our city.
Though I was spared the recent public criticism voiced against my colleagues on this board, as a member of the team I share their hurt and frustration. As a parent of three children who have derived great benefit from the instruction they have received here, I want to personally thank each of you for your tireless work and positive contributions. Though we may not have always agreed on every issue, I respect your right to have differences and know that each of you believe that your actions and votes were in the best interest of our students and teachers.
When I was appointed to this board, I decided to always consider the welfare of our children and then our parents and teachers before casting any vote or taking any actions. I am satisfied that I have done this.
We have just gone through an excruciating ordeal as a board and a system. There is too much positive about our mission and our future to allow a rehashing of the past. Now is the time to start a healing process. I decided this weekend that this healing process would best be started by encouraging a campaign of new ideas and enthusiasm rather than one of negativism and hidden agendas. Our students and teachers deserve better. I am persuaded that an election bid on my part would merely serve as a vehicle to dwell on the past.
For this reason, I decided not to submit my filing documents for election to this board. I will not be a candidate in the May election.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the hard working, dedicated teachers and administrators who have done everything possible to assist me in performing my duties. My respect and admiration for your ability and commitment to our young people grows daily.
Dr. Jenney, you have come to a wonderful place that is blessed with very talented educators and a motivated student populace. Unfortunately, you assume the helm of our ship in troubled waters. Please use all your skills to right our ship and direct us to smoother seas. My commitment to you and our young people will continue beyond the limits of my term. If I can ever assist you in helping our young people or our teachers, I will always be available.
I would like to briefly digress and make one point abundantly clear. On several occasions, an announced candidate for the Lynnhaven Borough seat has attempted to intimidate and threaten me if I chose to run for election. These shallow threats had absolutely no part to play in my decision. I take those threats as a misguided effort by an angry man to promote a personal agenda. There is no place in public service for those types of people and my only regret is that I choose not to engage him in a debate on philosophy and ability. I hope that all of our candidates will be positive and constructive.
In closing, I hope that in some small way I have made a positive impact on the operations of our school system. I will always cherish my fifteen minutes in the spotlight and the friendships that have been forged with all of you. I first entered this room with my head held high, a broad smile on my face and a great sense of pride in my appointment. I shall leave with my head held high, a broad smile on my face and a great sense of pride in my service to our young people.
Thank each and every one of you! ILLUSTRATION: Photos of each board member
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL GRAND JURY TEXT VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD
RESIGNATION by CNB