PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Prince William County’s highly paid school’s superintendent should hold regular meetings with the public in the same manner as the county’s police chief.
That’s the recommendation of a recent report from Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland, who doubts the ability of Schools Superintendent Steven L. Walts’ ability to lead the division following complaints from parents and faculty in the wake of an internal investigation into former Ronald Regan Middle School Alfie Turner.
Complainants said Turner created a hostile work environment, and the subsequent investigation received coverage from local and regional news outlets. Last month, Turner was reassigned to work in the school division’s headquarters, and school officials blamed those who complained, noting it was a concerted effort of a handful of people who aimed to discredit a longtime county schools employee.
Candland, whose not on the School Board, held a town hall meeting about the school division’s repose to the investigation. In a final report issued following the meeting, he said the school division needs to improve its personnel improvement plan, designed to improve employee performance but is really a tool for administrators to punish teachers by a “blind” committee of teachers and administrators, the report states.
The report also calls for the creation of an independent ombudsman to review mounting internal complaints against the system, and for independent, email surveys for employees that do not track the metadata of respondents, which could lead to repercussions for those who provide negative feedback about the workplace, the report states.
There’s also a call for Walts to add regular town hall meetings to his regular roster of duties, of which he is paid an annual salary of $400,000, where he would meet with the public to hear concerns from the community. Waits declined to attend Candland’s town because he didn’t want to discuss personnel issues in public.
The report states:
“There is no personnel matter that will prohibit anyone from the School Board or Administration from listening to the concerns of teachers and parents. While the representatives from the School Board and Administration might not be able to comment on a particular situation (similar to how Chief Bernard can’t comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation), they can perform one of the most important duties of a public servant – listen.”
A plan to force Walts to hold a summer listening tour around the Prince William County failed to impress the county School Board. Instead, it voted to rely on the division’s internal auditing office and include its legal counsel when it comes to reviewing whether or not Prince Willaim County Schools employees feel safe at work.
“You use the internal audit and tools like these to make democracy strong,” said Acting School Board Chairman Babur Lateef. “This, as it stands, is the best way to address the concerns.”
But others on the School Board disagreed.
“I’m afraid some will say ‘they’re hiding behind the bureaucracy again,” said Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum, who favored using both the internal review process and a superintendent listening tour.
“The pitchforks are gathering right now,” said Coles District member Willie Deutsch, who says the school division has lost trust amount parents and teachers. “To continue to not talk to people will not help the situation.”
Potomac District School Board member Justin Wilk said its incumbent upon the elected officials of the School Board to hold town hall meetings and listen to the poeple, not the superintendent.
“He’s a smart man,” added Occoquan District member Lillie Jessie. “I think he could find ways to go out and listen on his own.”
Last week, School Board officials declined to extend Walts’ contract which expires in 2021.
