By Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 12:00 am
In an unanimous decision Monday night, the Lebanon School Board overturned its May decision not to renew Seven Oak principal Ed Sansom's contract. The non-renewal had been recommended by the school district's administration team.
Sansom appealed the decision and requested a public hearing with the board. It was held June 2. Assistant Superintendent Steve Kelley said the district made the recommendation based on Sansom's evaluations showing he had not clearly communicated the district's vision with Seven Oak staff and had not communicated with parents on the progress of their children in a timely matter.
Represented by Salem attorney Kevin Lafkey, Sansom argued that the criteria used to evaluate him was subjective. He and said that the number of behavioral referrals had fallen from more than 4,000 a year to less than 400 since he was hired in 2002. Seven Oak is the only school at which math and reading scores continue to rise, Sansom told the board.
Superintendent Jim Robinson told the board that the district was working with Sansom and was confident that the issues could be resolved and recommendation brought to them next year for a contract renewal.
Sansom's old contract would have expired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
After the June 2 hearing, the board deferred a decision until June 16 in order to review the evaluations and other documents Kelley used to present the district's case for the non-renewal.
On Monday, board members agreed that after reading the documents that the district had not made a sufficient case not to renew Sansom's contract.
Board member Rick Alexander said he was basing his decision solely on what he heard June 2, and that he had not read the packet given to the board, based on his belief that even though the board had requested the information, the hearing was closed on June 2, and no further material or testimony should have been allowed.
Debi Shimmin offered an apology to Sansom for his ordeal. Josh Wineteer took issue with the district's assertion that even though test scores continue to rise, Seven Oak is still the lowest achieving school in the district.
"I think it's a slight to say lowest achieving, Wineteer said. "I think you have to judge on where you are now compared to where you started."
Board chair Sherrie Sprenger pointed out that although she was agreeable to reversing the non-renewal, from her reading of the documents it was obvious that the issues at Seven Oak had been building over the past few years.
The board had the option of extending Sansom's contract for one year, which would take him through the 2009-10 school year or giving him a new three year contract that would take effect July 1, 2008. The board granted Robinson's request for the one-year extension option. The district is currently dealing with a number of complaints from parents about the lack of communication from Seven Oak, Robinson said.
"If you go with three-years, we're learning that we need to be more lenient with that lack of communication," he said. "I'm not comfortable on behalf of students or parents with that."
Afterward Sansom said he was satisfied with the decision.
"I appreciate the board for hearing my case and taking some time to examine the issues before deciding," Sansom said.
In April, Lafkey filed a tort claim notice with the district on behalf of Sansom, signaling the possibility that the principal might sue over his treatment. On Monday, Sansom would not rule out the possibility against future litigation.