By Irene Barajas, South County Correspondent for the Tillamook County Pioneer
On Tuesday evening August 26th, Nestucca School District’s Board of Directors held their eighth meeting since four of the five members began their terms on July 1st. This meeting was necessary after the resignation of Superintendent Misty Wharton on August 18th.
The Board started off with an Executive Session to discuss appointing an Acting Superintendent. Upon their return to Public Meeting, they unanimously voted in favor of current administrator Ken Richwine. Please follow this link for more information around Supt. Richwine and his new role: https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/nestucca-valley-school-board-appoints-ken-richwine-acting-superintendent/
It was decided that Board Chair Greg Woods, and Vice Chair Sherry Hartford would do research to recommend acting superintendent’s salary and benefits. If Richwine and the Board agree to have him stay in his new position permanently after an evaluation in January, his salary and benefits will be re-evaluated at that time.
Moving on to other business, Chairman Woods read, as he put it, a “little note from the Board” regarding the departure of Misty Wharton:
“On behalf of the Nestucca Valley School District School Board, we would like to address Misty Wharton’s resignation. Misty Wharton notified the Board of her desire to resign. The Board did not force or request a resignation. It was an amicable separation. Misty will receive a year’s salary and benefits. We respect and support her decision, and wish her well in her endeavors.”
The reading was met with scoffs, eyerolls and a couple derisive comments from some of the attendees as Woods opened up the meeting for public comment.
Former NHS science teacher Gordon Whitehead was the first to speak. In stark contrast to Woods’ emotionless reading, Mr. Whitehead delivered a moving, heartfelt recitation of Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” written by the great poet upon learning of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The tension in the room was palpable as he read, his voice cracking but strong, almost shouting at times, causing his audience to visibly jump in their seats on more than one occasion. The absolute silence as he finished, “…my Captain lies, fallen cold and dead,” was a powerful statement all unto itself.
Chair Woods moved the meeting along, calling Kathleen Serven up next, staff member, NHS alum with a child in attending Nestucca schools. “The Servenator” as many of her students affectionately refer to her, has worked in the district 31 years as a band and choir director, English teacher, Speech Team coach, and Spring Musical director. She also taught Dir. Boisa’s children, as well as Dir. Hartford herself.
Serven is known for her great love and passion for Nestucca, and has given many emotional, powerful speeches, often speaking through tears due to her pride and love for the student and staff. This one, however, was clearly delivered from a base of frustration and disappointment.
“The NVSD Board is tasked with maintaining and improving school facilities and ensuring financial resource allocation. The voting action of the last meeting is a direct failure to fulfill this job description,” she said, criticizing the Board’s 4-to-1 vote that denied an excise tax increase. She pointed out that the $0.04 per sq ft increase would have only added a one-time charge of $72 to an 1800 sq/ft build, which would be on the larger end of most homes in South County. Serven reiterated what Ms. Wharton had stated at the last meeting, prior to the vote, that the excise tax currently brings in about $100k to the district each year.
She pointed out the illogical decision in turning down the additional income to the district, which can be used on building maintenance and computers and helps free up general fund monies, while also saying the school should cover all the college credits [for high school students]. Serven stated the comparisons to districts such as NKN are unfair, due to size and budget differences. She also feels that it “smells off” that the Board seemed to be swayed by a singular community member speaking out against the increase, and that “one Board Member has an absolute conflict of interest in avoiding the excise tax for her house rental business. That’s concerning, to say the least, and not following the Board’s job description.
The three-minute timer went off at this point, but she was allowed to finish uninterrupted. “This action has given me a loud message from the Board and it’s not a good one. Please follow your job description and know that you’re sending us a message with every vote.” Those in attendance seemed to agree whole-heartedly, as Mrs. Serven walked back to her seat to a round of applause.
Once things settled down, Dir. Boisa spoke about hearing from several people who do not feel safe coming to Board meetings, and referenced an email she’d received from someone who had been verbally accosted at the end of a prior meeting by another attendant, had asked the person to stop and back off but they did not. Boisa stated that is the kind of incident that grows wings and the Board cannot be allowed to continue. She said that attendees need to act like responsible adults, to join via Zoom if you cannot do that, and that perhaps a police officer may need to be brought in.
Woods added that the incident had been discussed at last week’s meeting, and agreed that people need to act like adults, even with differing opinions. He then allowed retired NVSD teacher Kelli McMellon to speak from her seat. She attested that she had witnessed the incident Boisa’s email spoke of, and was disappointed in the Board’s initial response, stating it had been a completely one-sided attack and was not an “everybody get along” moment like the Board had presented it as.
Woods added that everyone “needs to move forward in the right direction, “ and then immediately adjourned the meeting.
Note: Members of the press may attend Executive Session portion of public meetings, though only for specific topics. They are not allowed to report directly on what they hear in regard to items listed in the agenda, but if the Board speaks about any other topics, press may report on them.