Santa Rosa school board meeting ends acrimoniously

Santa Rosa City Schools board members tried to bridge a divide that has widened in the past few months, but the discussion hit a snag late Wednesday when two trustees became so frustrated they continued arguing after the meeting ended.

After a four-hour session on other issues, the board finally broached a topic that had been building for weeks: board member conduct and distrust between the board, the teachers union and district employees.

The teachers union is in the midst of ugly contract negotiations with the district, which have reached an impasse that forced a state mediator to step in. In the past several months, teachers have packed school board meetings, demanding raises, and union leadership has accused Superintendent So corro Shiels of withholding information critical to negotiations.

The issue came to a boil in March following accusations from Santa Rosa Teachers Association President Amy Stern that Shiels hid information from the board that could have saved the district $2 million in transportation costs.

Stern’s allegations of “malfeasance” and “blatant violations of trust” prompted the district to commission an investigation, which last month concluded Stern’s allegations were untrue and based on incomplete information.

The report also raised questions about the role of board member Ron Kristof, whose behind-the-scenes work to bring attention to the transportation issue caused even further distrust between teachers and the board.

On Wednesday, Board President Donna Jeye tried to corral the discussion to focus on board member behavior and board policies meant to keep rogue trustees from acting outside their purview.

Kristof did not attend the meeting. He did not return a phone message nor an email seeking comment Thursday.

Jeye called out Kristof’s actions on the transportation issue, saying he could have simply called Shiels for an answer instead of allowing distrust to be stirred up.

“It’s clear Mr. Kristof had information about the November letter in advance of March 11 and did nothing to talk with the superintendent about it,” she said, reading from a prepared statement.

“This is a violation of our policies and is a direct attack on the operation of the district and how we are to conduct our business and how we are to act as school board members.”

It was also clear, she said, that Kristof was “overinvolved in direct communication with union leadership.”

“And it appears that they do not realize he is not credible and his opinions and information should not be relied upon,” she said.

SRTA union leader Will Lyon defended Kristof, a former teacher whom Lyon called a friend and worthy board member.

“I reject the fact that he’s untrustworthy,” Lyon said. “He’s saying truths that people don’t want to hear.”

He said Kristof’s perceived closeness to teachers may highlight a disconnect.

“We feel there are plenty of people that are in district leadership that aren’t listening to teachers,” he said. “If it looks like he’s working too closely, it might be because there are others that need to work more closely.”

Trustees Jenni Klose, Larry Haenel, Frank Pugh and Bill Carle agreed the board needs to revisit its policies and code of conduct and rebuild trust.

But Trustee Laura Gonzalez said that doesn’t address the board’s real dysfunction.

“That’s a shallow answer to problems that plague the board at this point in time,” she said. “If we were to be honest, the distrust and sour relationships go far beyond just following board policy.”

Gonzalez said a four-member majority - Jeye, Klose, Haenel and Carle - discount the opinions of the other three members - her, Pugh and Kristof.

Carle, Klose and Haenel all said most board votes are unanimous or close, and that 4-3 splits are rare, suggesting that ultimately the board agrees on most big issues.

Klose said Kristof’s close relationship with union leadership went over the line.

“There’s talking to teachers and there’s trying to effect change outside of board policy,” she said. “… When we’re doing things sort of covertly, (having) covert discussions and talking about things that turn to rumors that run rampant and carry the day instead of the truth, then that’s a real problem.”

“I think what we’ve just witnessed is marginalization and what we’ve just witnessed is spin,” Gonzalez said. “To say that our votes are hardly ever divided is true, but it’s also disingenuous.”

She said, “There is a lot of ?finger-pointing at some board members, while other board members’ behavior goes unchecked.”

Gonzalez said Jeye has let email requests for information go unanswered. She said while Carle was board president, she wasn’t allowed to add things to the board’s agenda.

“Baloney,” Carle interrupted. “I don’t operate that way. I wouldn’t operate that way. I don’t believe that from a democracy standpoint. Baloney.”

“I disagree,” Gonzalez replied.

She said she’s been shot down after asking questions or trying to solve problems.

“It has become ‘This is majority rule. We are the four, you deal with it.’ There is no consensus, no trying to reach a consensus, no discussing things. It’s just ‘No, that’s the way it is,’ and we’re shut down.”

Gonzalez pondered how the board could repair the hurt feelings if they “are in denial” about the true problems.

After Jeye adjourned the meeting moments later, Carle approached Gonzalez as she was packing to leave and asked about what issues she believed he precluded her from bringing up.

Each making hand gestures, Carle walked away still talking: “You accused me of something and I just want to know what I did.”

“So you say jump and I must jump now?” Gonzalez called after him.

Before that tiff, the board had informally agreed to hold a retreat to re-examine board guidelines and ethics.

You can reach Staff Writer ?Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or ?lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.