O’Neil and Trani – District Negotiators?

Mr. O’Neil,

At the April 2014 school board meeting, I requested an explanation regarding how you and the Superintendent were able to appoint yourselves as the District’s negotiators for the Charter Agreement. I still have not received an answer.

The only board action regarding Charter negotiations at that time had already been assigned to two board members, Mickalson and Purvine. You did not ask for a vote of the board or obtain board approval for acting on behalf of the District, therefore one would assume that all of your efforts are null and void.

It appears that you have now violated Corbett’s Policy and Procedures regarding negotiations. These state that the School Board will handle negotiations unless they appoint a professional negotiator to do them for the board.  Neither you, nor the Superintendent, have those qualifications. You were not appointed by the Board to do the work. (This also leads to some additional interesting questions and concerns regarding previous contracts and negotiations – since the Superintendent has been doing those in violation of your own policies since he became the Superintendent.)

In addition, you engaged an attorney to help you in these negotiations with the Charter and there was no approval for spending money by the school board. This also falls outside the scope of normal and accepted school business. The cost to the District for this course of action, chosen by you and the Superintendent and done without Board approval should now be your personal responsibility and not the taxpayers of this District.

Charter Director Robert Dunton made an offer to hold mediations and discussion in a public setting for all to attend, assuring transparency that is severely lacking on the District’s side. This course of action was not the one taken by you and the Superintendent and instead the process was cloaked in secrecy, leaving many wondering what kind of coercion may have been used to get the results we are now seeing.

There are examples where the Corbett School board has retroactively granted approval on actions taken, or rescinded policies when it has been pointed out we are violating them. I hope you do not plan to take these types of actions in this case. No board authorization was originally given to you and the Superintendent in this matter. It is proper protocol for the Board Chair to direct the appropriate district employee to respond with an answer, so please do so now. I am also asking that the explanation be sent in writing, either by e-mail or USPS.

Regards,

Gary Purvine
garypurvine@aol.com
PO Box 125
Corbett, OR 97019