Rainier School Debacle Far From Over
This just in from the Longview, Washington Daily News:
A Rainier man has filed recall petitions on six of the seven sitting Rainier School Board members, saying they’ve failed in their oversight duties.
Russ Crawford, who has criticized board members and Superintendent Michael Carter for several months, filed the paperwork late last week. The members named are Chairman Dale Archibald, Vice Chairwoman Penny Blahm, Rod Harding, Bill Scholten, Scott Schuff, and Chad Womack. Crawford claims that the board has let Carter run the district with no oversight and that they are “no longer fulfilling their ultimate obligation,” to the students and community, according to a statement he released.
Some of you may remember a couple previous posts I had made about the Rainier School District slapping Superintendent Michael Carter on the wrist due to some stupid circumstances. I don’t really want to rehash it all so click here and here to read about them.
I know a bunch of folks on the Rainier School Board, and with Rainier being such a small town (population 1750), the shenanigans taking place in the Rainier School District over the past year have really shaken the community.
My take is that the Rainier School Board could have easily ousted Carter and Kash like they needed to, yet the few board members whom Carter didn’t have in his pocket failed to stand up for what was right. Because of this I wholeheartedly support Russ Crawford in circulating a petition to remove every member of the school board. They have failed to do their job, and in turn are failing the students and their families.
The old words ring true. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men sit around and do nothing.
Good people sat around and now drastic action has to be taken. I implore every Rainier resident that comes across this blog to support Russ Crawford and sign the petition. Change is needed now, for the kids’ sake.
8 Comments, Comment or Ping
B-Rye
Archibald and Harding can go, the rest I have a pretty good deal of respect for, esp Mrs. Blahm.
Sigh, none of this went on when my Dad was on the School Board.
Jan 29th, 2008
Jason
Carter and Kash are two bags of crap that are destroying the Rainier School District. Making out with students in the hall and firing the best principle ever? HELLO! Come on people, when Jay Davies is gone, you know some serious stuff has happened, and not in a good light either.
-Jas
Jan 29th, 2008
Chris
Nobody was fired, the good people all resigned.
I don’t know where Gilbert went; last I heard Davies works for Kelso schools now.
Jan 29th, 2008
Jason
This is true. My bad. But the point remains: if the best counselor to work at Rainier School resigns, something is awry.
-Jas
Jan 29th, 2008
B-Rye
I believe Mr. Davies retired, I hadnt heard anything about him working for Kelso schools.
Jan 30th, 2008
Chris
He may well have. Any way you cut it, he’s not in Rainier anymore and the Rainier School District is worse off because of his departure.
Jan 30th, 2008
Sally K
Jeff Gilbert has been hired as the new principal of Reynolds High School, Portland, Oregon.
He was my daughter’s favorite teacher at Milwaukie High School and we are thrilled that he will be at Reynolds soon.
Mar 7th, 2008
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