VIDEO: Board Puts Bourisaw on the Spot
Filed Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Members of the elected school board dropped a stack of homework on Superintendent Diana Bourisaw’s desk last night.
The Board added to next week’s agenda requests for 20 different reports and information requests from Bourisaw and her staff. But all the other requests really could have been rolled up into the one from former Board President Veronica O’Brien: a letter from Bourisaw saying who she thinks she works for — the elected board that hired her or the newly appointed board that is in charge of the district now?
Requests from the board members present:
From Veronica O’Brien: a letter stating who Bourisaw thinks she works for and a request for what exactly “academic leave” is and is the superintendent paid while she is on it.
From Donna Jones: an update on the RFP for the district’s food service contract, a report on the supplies the district currently has, and the status of a proposed back-to-school fair.
From Kate Wessling: a report on how the administration plans to handle excessive heat in un-airconditioned classrooms.
From Bill Purdy:
- the identities of the 30 employees who were laid off last week, the rationale for doing so, and any plans for new layoffs;
- detailed report on the employee early retirement plan;
- update on repairs to Metro High;
- status on air conditioning projects;
- status on text books and supply orders;
- status of food service contract;
- enrollment projects for next years and the number of empty seats in magnet schools;
- report on previously approved property sales;
- report on teacher staffing;
- review of superintendent’s evaluation for previous year;
- what (if any) plans for “split” classes next year;
- what is the status of the new gifted high school at McKinley;
- and reports from the district employees who traveled to Harvard for a seminar on urban education on what they learned
Bourisaw was not at last night’s meeting. She, along with several district employees and CEO Rick Sullivan, are attending a seminar at Harvard University on urban education. According to a district spokesperson, she is expected to be back in the office on Monday.
(Video shot by Intern Gabe Bullard)