Other allegations continue to move through the courts
By Eric Valentine
A group of parents, teachers and students upset by a number of recent and ongoing issues in the Blaine County School District say trustees and executives have “willfully ignored” them, so they’re taking their troubles to state and county leaders, including Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin.
Organized by the group calling itself I-Care, the public session will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 3, at the Wood River Inn in Hailey.
Meanwhile, a school district employee’s complaint of retaliation for what she describes as simply doing her job continues to escalate. The district’s human resources director Shannon Maza has confirmed that her claims of defamation and retaliation by the district have been filed with and accepted by the Idaho Human Rights Commission—an independent agency established by the Idaho Legislature to help protect persons from illegal discrimination. The commission could now contact the school district in an attempt to mediate a resolution.
As of press deadline Tuesday, the school district had not responded to either of Maza’s two existing tort claims. This means Maza can file suit for the defamation matter by June. The second tort claim regarding retaliation can be taken to trial in July, if the district does not respond.
June 3 Forum
Also in attendance at Monday’s meeting will be Idaho State Senator and Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, Idaho State Representative Muffy Davis, and Blaine County Commissioner Angenie McCleary.
The political leaders will be at the meetup “to listen” and “none will be speaking,” the concerned parents said. In their statement to the press, they also spelled out some ground rules for the evening:
The event is “purple”—indicating it is nonpartisan and requesting that attendees should “leave the red-blue nonsense behind.”
Up to seven speakers will be given five minutes to speak, and comments should be specific to the way district leadership affects parents, teachers and residents.
Occupancy is limited to 40 people, so admission may be denied.
Those interested in speaking at the event are asked to email cynthia.cignero@gmail.com or message the I-Care Facebook page with an outline of the topic you would like to address.
The June 3 forum and the two tort claims are just one part of a panoramic of somewhat atypical issues the school district has faced this past school year. Earlier this year, Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes was sued by two former students claiming censorship by the district. And in April, the school board received a resignation letter from one of its communications specialists alleging bullying, intimidation, retaliation and harassment by his supervisor.
“To my knowledge, Dr. Holmes has not been invited to attend the meeting,” district spokesperson Heather Crocker said when asked if the superintendent would be present at the forum.
To see the district’s response to these matters, see The Weekly Sun’s story in the May 22 issue titled “School Officials Respond To District Dilemmas.”