To the Editor:

I am disappointed with the reporting by the Blue Mountain Eagle, and dismayed by the lack of transparency by the Grant School District No.3 School Board.

The Eagle reported on Page 1 March 4 that Mark Witty had accepted the superintendent position at Baker School District 5J, and on Page 10 gave a notice of a special meeting of the District 3 school board.

To be discussed was the acceptance of Mr. Witty’s letter of resignation and options for hiring a new superintendent. The article failed to mention who was being considered, how the board was going to act, what the board was going to consider and the timetable for the considerations.

At the meeting, Chris Cronin recommended hiring Curt Shelley as the new superintendent.

Item 4.0 of the agenda was to discuss the hiring of a new superintendent. Several new people were there and spoke highly of Curt Shelley and why he should be hired. By their attendance, it appeared they had information the general public did not have.

I told the board I had personally contacted three individuals about their willingness to serve as an interim superintendent. One was not qualified; one was willing, but had prior commitments; the third did not get back to me. I suggested the board consider Grant County superintendents first, and contact the OEA to find retired superintendents who could serve temporarily. This would save money while allowing the board to conduct a thorough search. One board member agreed a rushed decision was not good.

It was alleged that if Mr. Shelley was not hired then, he would accept a position at another district, and he needed to make a decision by Thursday.

The board never discussed the qualifications for a superintendent, nor did they ask Mr. Shelley about his qualifications or goals.

The board voted 5-1 to hire him pending salary negotiations.

I am disappointed that no qualifications were discussed, and no applicants were considered. The public was misled; the board failed to be transparent about how they were going to go about hiring a superintendent.

The board should not be so hasty and be more transparent with the citizens of District 3.

Charles G. Amling

Mt. Vernon