Guest Columnist Gary Van Dyke

Below is a letter I submitted to the Roundup Public School Board for inclusion at their April 17th meeting. I was unable to attend the meeting, and expected the letter to be addressed and read during the Boards assembly, as had been established with prior communications by my and others. I later learned the Board Chair refused to read the letter, or address its tectonic content, with his reasoning of the individuals noted in the letter "weren't there to defend themselves", to what, is unknown. I pose this question to the voter, who will guide the decisions and expectations of the Districts' board by retaining members, or bringing fresh ideas and voices to the floor; does the education the youth of Roundup receive in the public schools align with the values and expectations of those who pay the taxes- funding the employees, the administration, and the structures of this District? Does this District's communications and transparency meet your expectations and standards, or is there room for improvement? If you want change, propel the Board to make the changes by voting out members.

March thirteenth, twenty-twenty one. This was the date this Board was individually notified in writing via email of concerns with Kenneth William Larson, this District's now former Junior/Senior High School Principal. This email followed individualized, personal phone conversations with each board member- placed by me on March 09, 2021 highlighting my concerns with the former administrator, and an open, unadjudicated complaint that had been filed against the former principal on February 25, 2020 with the former District Superintendent. This Board's members were also notified by email and phone conversations by at least one educational member employed within the District on March 10, 2021, highlighting staff concerns of the former principal.

This Board held a regularly scheduled meeting on March 08, 2021, with one agenda item regarding the renewal of the former principal's contract. The motion to "offer a contract", proposed by Chris Brewer, seconded by Tom Vandeberg, closed that evening after a discussion with the members, eventually ending as the "motion was rescinded". A hastily plotted special meeting was planned for March 10, 2021, but this Districts then Superintendent Chad Sealey and Board Chair Tom Vandeberg were notified by email of the Montana statue regarding open meeting laws and notification. After consultation with this District's legal counsel, Mr. Sealey responded in an email, admitting fault based on the notation "the Board adjourned the meeting so the full 48 hours is required" to fulfill public notification. The "special school board meeting" was held March 15, 2021, with members of this Board once again meeting to discuss the offer of a contract to "Ken Larson, Jr/Sr High School Principal, for the 2021-22 school year", with the motion passing 3-2, with Ms. Angel and Mr. Snook voting opposed.

During the May 10, 2021 regular Board meeting, a member of the public commented why "numerous resignations" were referenced in this Boards meeting minutes. In my emailed concerns, I posed this question to the reader, YOU - the publicly, taxpayer funded, elected Board members- "does this principal encompass the educational foundations and standards we encourage our youth to rise to", and encouraged YOU to hold the principal to the "standards of exceptional integrity and positive environments of education and learning in the representation of Roundup Public Schools". YOU, the members of this Board allowed mass exodus of quality educators and staff to scurry away from the hallowed halls of Roundup Jr/Sr. High School, despite concerns from the public and your own staff presented to you, with you never seemingly questioning the leadership of the prior administration or the former principal.

I could highlight the facts of lack of leadership when a threat was proposed towards the school in November 2021, the Covid 19 response and mask requirements, cancelling school because of athletic events and lack of staff, the recent highlights of racial discussions held within the school, or innumerable other incidents; but these have all been publicly published in the local news sources and would be a waste of my time as they continue to fall on failing auricles.

With the exception of one member that wasn't elected during these reported dates, the remainder of this Board's members ought to be ashamed of the ineptness of their supposed lack of action, and hopefully will be ousted in upcoming elections, with the voters reminding you of whom you work for and represent.

Luckily- someone had the intestinal fortitude members lacked in the past, and eventually placed the former principal on leave for the remainder of this school year. I hope the prior damage done is not irreparable, and can bring quality education to the young minds of the students within this District. Further- I hope the prior authorized retirement incentive salary offered to the former principal will be revoked with his early leave.

Thank you

Gary Van Dyk