Residents Pose Hard Questions at Rockwood Board Meeting

A handful of the 50 attendees at Thursday's Rockwood School District board of education meeting offered hard-hitting observations and questions during the patrons' comments portion.

Rockwood directors responded to an attendee's request to move public comments to an earlier time slot in the meeting. However, per Rockwood policy, individual patron comments are not addressed or debated on the spot. Instead, speakers fill out cards with their contact details to enable follow-up.

First at the podium were Eureka residents Eileen Tyrrell and Lisa Hunt Earls, who are establishing a volunteer coalition entitled Rockwood Stakeholders For Real Solutions. Tyrrell said they planned to inform fellow taxpayers who don't understand, or don't have time to keep up with, the district's developments.

Tyrrell also said they planned to bring grievances to the forefront, using advocacy techniques. "It is not always easy for parents and others to come forward. And we realize you (board of directors) don’t hear all the issues. We feel the district's layers are too thick. We'd like fair, open and honest communication, and are hoping it’s acceptable."

Another Rockwood resident, Hermann Kriegshauser, said he had been supportive of the district, serving on Rockwood committees through the years. "But much has happened lately. People are saying things about Rockwood at the Chesterfield chamber, about the Post-Dispatch, after Elliot Davis—none are favorable comments," he said.

Kriegshauser said the district was dealing with difficult public relations issues, and that he was "not sure minds could be changed."

He said he believed that 65 percent to 67 percent of voters want to cap government spending, including school and fire districts. "I understand the need for future funds, and support the board fully. We need another bond issue in April 2012, probably. Why not put a no-tax increase on same ballot?"

Kriegshauser said Rockwood can no longer rely on funding from local property taxes. "We must begin to think of our resources; we need donations from companies and individuals."

Dale Redhage, of Ballwin, pointed to $206,000 in district expenses in reportedly employee take-home vehicles. "Taxpayers' money is putting fuel into those vehicles. I assume you're adding to the fleet? I recommend not to spend more on that fleet, if we're serious about a tax increase," he said.

Redhage shared he had attended the recent town hall meeting in Wildwood hosted by the Concerned Patrons of Rockwood. "I participated at that meeting. I've read everything that's been on the Patch website, and I've talked to teachers who are upset about what's happening. What's been allowed is destroying this district," he said.

He said moving the board's vote of spending district funds on consultants to the district's 'consent agenda' (non-descriptive and non-participatory portion) is not acceptable to anyone to whom he talked. Answers have never really been given, he said.

Redhage unfurled a lengthy printout, several feet long, of what he said was 11 pages of organizational charts for Rockwood administration. "I can’t understand how we spend money on pay increases, and use other school districts to compare and justify salaries," he said. 

He offered a prewritten resignation letter for Rockwood employees who he said he had heard were justifying pay raises by saying they are underpaid for what they do, compared to the same private sector jobs. When he read the letter aloud, an immediate round of applause from attendees erupted.

As a former Rockwood curriculum coordinator, Steve Ayotte, of Eureka, said he had made dozens of presentation to the boards. "It saddens me, because for the first time, I have to come to make patron comments," he said.

"I'm not going to go through all the misperceptions and lies. I'm here to ask:  What are we going to do next?" said Ayotte.

Ayotte, who said he had been an educator in Rockwood and Parkway, and now in another district, indicated he and his wife, also a teacher, deliberately chose to purchase a house within Rockwood boundaries so their children could attend school there. "Our views of Rockwood never waivered until this last year," he said. "Rockwood does not need additional funding; I can give you multiple examples why. There's no way the district should ask for a tax increase when there's no confidence in leadership of the district."

Ayotte was one of about 10 Rockwood curriculum coordinators who lost their jobs during the district's recent reorganization.

"Through character education, we teach honesty, integrity and empathy in Rockwood schools. You know what the right thing is; doing it is what’s hard," he said.

"In the case of what's happened lately in Rockwood, it takes saying 'I made a mistake, I’m sorry.' Without that, teachers and taxpayers won't have confidence."

Bob Nation, a Chesterfield resident, said he had lived in the Rockwood district for 30 years, and had graduates of . He said he supported past bond issues, believing it is necessary to keep good property values. "However, I'm deeply, deeply disappointed with the district's salaries and consulting fees that I see."

"I read all I could about these matters, hoping to find legitimate reasons that made sense. Dr. Borchers was quoted as saying: 'Well, this is the going rate.'"

Nation said unless something is done to restore character and integrity, a proposed tax increase would not pass. "I implore the board to do something meaningful about all this. We're all human beings. Dr. Borchers, you may have stubbed your toe. We all deserve second chances. But you need to do something significant to indicate mistakes were made."

He suggested the two new administrators be asked to pay back in full their entire consulting fee compensations.

Rockwood board of education president Steve Smith concluded the patrons' comments portion by assuring all speakers that the directors would take all points into consideration.

Read related articles about another important topic presented the same evening during the Rockwood board of education work session: