WR board boots Jackson, 3 top officials

 

A s his fourth year leading Window Rock schools draws to a close, Superintendent Thomas Jackson has learned that his time at the 2,600-student district has an expiration date.

On March 25 the district's school board voted 5-0 not to renew Jackson's contract. The board also voted against renewing the contracts of three other top administrators. The fate of a fourth administrator was tabled.

For Jackson and the others being cut loose, their last day will be June 30.

"The board has full authority to hire and fire the superintendent," Jackson said. "(The board members) acted well within their authority."

The other administrators who will not be rehired are Steven Swartout, Window Rock High principal; Lorna Lewis, Tsehootsooi Elementary principal; and the district's human resources director, Tyrone Barlow.

The board tabled the contract of Larry Watson, director of curriculum and instruction.

Theresa Galvan, school board president, said the board's decision was based on several factors, but she did not offer specifics.

"The superintendent did not meet the board's expectancy," Galvan said. "There were several things he has to complete, things the board expected. Some areas weren't complete."

The board made the decision after a lengthy meeting behind closed doors.

Jackson, who in 2005 replaced Deborah Jackson-Dennison, found a silver lining in the board's unanimous vote.

"It shows they have a united board," Jackson said. "It should be positive for whoever they hire as the next superintendent."

The current board - consisting of Galvan, board clerk Emily K. Arviso, Lorraine Nelson, Errol Valteau and Lena Wilson - is completely different than the board that hired Jackson and fired his predecessor. The members of that previous board completed their terms and stepped down, or were voted out over concerns that they were too partisan.

Galvan and Nelson both were elected in 2006.

In November 2008, there were three vacant seats and only two candidates. Arviso and Wilson ran unopposed, filling two of the seats, and the Apache County superintendent then appointed Valteau to the third.

"This is a complete change from the board that brought me in," Jackson said. "Of the five board members, none of the original members that hired me are still on the board."

It's not uncommon for a new governing board to want its own picks to lead a school district.

"This is a new governing board coming in," Galvan said. "With the state funding cuts, we want to ensure we are still meeting the guidelines of No Child Left Behind, that making adequate yearly progress is on the top of the lists of the administrators."

The district made AYP under Jackson-Dennison, but has not done so since she left.

Jackson said he understands the board's position and will work with the district as it seeks a new superintendent.

Jackson said he was not surprised at the board's action. He said at least one board member ran for the position on a platform to remove the superintendent.

However, Jackson did express concern for members of his team who also are losing their jobs. In each case, Jackson recommended to the board that it renew their contracts.

"I was disappointed," he said.

In particular, Jackson was dismayed that the board booted Swartout, who has held his position for less than a year.

"You can't come in and change anything in one year," Jackson said, and he questioned how the board had reached its decision on Swartout.

"They did not base it on his evaluation, or my recommendation," Jackson said.

Galvan said the board's decision was based on several factors. Ultimately, the administrators did not meet expectations, she said.

Jackson came to the district after a messy removal of its former leader, Jackson-Dennison. During his tenure, however, student performance flagged, at least as measured under No Child Left Behind.

During the 2004-05 school year, the last year of Jackson-Dennison's leadership, the district made adequate yearly progress. AYP is a federal benchmark comprised of student test scores, graduation and absenteeism rates.

WRSD has not met AYP since then.

According to the Arizona Department of Education, student test scores have been mixed. In 10th graders, the percentage of students who met the standard in math dropped from 46 percent in 2006 to 39 percent the following year. Last year 42 percent met the math standard.

In reading, students showed a very slight improvement, from 48 percent in 2006 to 49 percent last year. In writing, scores were uneven. The percentage of students meeting the standard increased from 56 to 65 percent from 2006 to 2007, but dropped to 52 percent last year.

In the midst of statewide budget cuts, the Window Rock district has so far managed to keep its head above water.

In fact, the district has managed to launch several construction projects in the past year, including 10 new classrooms and an auditorium at Window Rock Elementary.

The district also started construction on up to 14 units of new teacher housing and a new $22 million middle school.

In total, the district has about $90 million in new construction in various stages of readiness, Jackson said.

"I'm certainly not ashamed that I got the business office straightened out and back in good order," Jackson said. "We've had no problem with state cuts."

Back to top ^