Commentary: Noel Should Step Down from School Board

The Santa Barbara school board, the district and our students don't deserve to be held hostage by one man with obstruction on his mind.

By Nancy Harter | Published on 12.09.2008

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On Dec. 2, Santa Barbara School District board member Bob Noel spoke at public comment before a closed-session school board meeting to discuss Superintendent Brian Sarvis’ annual evaluation, a basic board responsibility. In a brief speech at the podium, he called for Sarvis’ resignation and then abruptly left the meeting.

Nancy Harter

Noel’s comments were the equivalent of a verbal hand grenade lobbed into the room while he dashed out the door and refused to participate in the closed-session discussion. He delivered a follow-up attack in the Sunday edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press, just to be thorough. This is the kind of atmosphere that he thrives in — strike out at others for perceived shortcomings, assign blame, and defy established procedures and processes for problem solving.

While Noel would like to convince the public that his bold call for Sarvis’ resignation is related to issues in special education or student achievement, it’s really a much more personal matter. On Oct. 31, his American Charter High School petition was withdrawn from consideration by the state Board of Education. The state Department of Education staff report on the petition was a devastating assessment. The petition fell short in 57 percent of the necessary categories. The vigorously pro-charter Advisory Commission on Charter Schools offered the petitioners the face-saving option of withdrawal rather than sending a negative recommendation to the state board.

How convenient that special education issues started to rear their head during this same time frame. It provided the perfect front for retaliation against a superintendent who allegedly obstructed his charter plans.

And what of Noel’s demand for Sarvis’ resignation? Here’s a reasonable scenario: Sarvis has already indicated he will not resign voluntarily. So, Noel must convince a board majority to release Sarvis from his contract, requiring a buyout of at least 18 months of salary and benefits — and perhaps some legal fees. The board would engage the services of an interim superintendent at a premium while simultaneously engaging a search firm to lure a replacement to a district roiling in controversy. Accomplishing this feat in a year’s time would be nothing short of a miracle. In the meantime, it’s likely that other district employees would have worked out their own exit strategies, leaving key positions vacant and district progress at a standstill. How does this scenario benefit students?

Noel has served on the board for 10 years, and despite regular changes in board membership, he’s never been able to muster a majority for his “out of the box” proposals. His “watchdog” governance style has resulted in countless hours of wasted staff time and turnover, as well as large legal fees. He has railed against fellow board members as lacking in vision, yet he refuses to adhere to even the most fundamental principals of leadership and participation. Now he’s squandering an opportunity to reach out to new board members by igniting a controversy at the start of their terms.

Instead of calling for the resignation of the superintendent, Noel should step down from the school board himself. He would still be able to criticize the district with impunity as a member of the public. He might even be more effective than he is in his current role. But he’d no longer be able to hinder practical, reasoned and civil solutions to serving our students.

Nancy Harter served two terms on the Santa Barbara School District Board of Education, from 2000 to 2008.

Comments

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» DP Parent on 12.10.08 @ 04:44 AM

I completely agree! Thank you Nancy Harter for reminding us what real leadership looks like. The loudest voice is the room is not always correct, and though there are areas of challenge in our school district, this is certainly the wrong time and place to overhaul the leadership.

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» In Student Interest on 12.10.08 @ 04:58 AM

Noel has spent too much valuable time tearing down our schools. If he doesn’t go voluntarily he should be recalled. The current superintendent has indeed made big strides in the progress of moving the district ahead in a difficult district during more difficult socio-economic times.

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» awareingoleta on 12.10.08 @ 05:54 AM

Yes, it’s time Bob Noel found another hobby - one where he is not destructive to the progress of the school district.

He does not work thoughtfully for the K-12 children in the district - it’s more important to him to play victim, martyr and what he perceives as “out of the box” behavior. It’s out of the box, all right - just not productive or helpful.

He is focused on Bob, and making himself a brief hero in his own eyes…wasting wasted money (legal fees and other expenses), time and district resources. His negative obstructionism is blatant, and he needs to step down, take care of his health, pay attention to his family and get a life.

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» temex on 12.10.08 @ 06:20 AM

Amen!

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» anon on 12.10.08 @ 07:55 AM

So, did I miss it? When did Nancy Harter drink the Kool Aid? Oh, I forgot, Dr. Sarvis has pretty much snowed every female board member (except for Kate Parker) into believing his destructive personal agendas. It is obvious that he does not like Dr. Noel because he could not put Dr. Noel in the desired pidgeon hole. Instead, he designed the hole and labeled it malcontent and obstructionist and did his best to put Dr. Noel there every chance he could get!

I am disappointed in Nancy Harter, Laura Malakoff and Lynn Rodriguez that they would all be so easily swayed by Dr. Sarvis’ slimy manipulations. I thought they were smarter than this.

Dr. Noel is only speaking out as anyone with a conscience should do. I would, but I am fearful of Dr. Sarvis’ long reach with the retaliation club. Thank you Dr. Noel for being a voice for those of us who cannot speak up and confront the dragon safely!

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» Disgusted taxpayer on 12.10.08 @ 07:58 AM

Bob Noel has been a bone of contention in the quest to better our schools in Santa Barbara for too long. Anyone who has consistently been in opposition to the rest of the board for as long as he has needs to move on. He appears to have his own agenda and is not looking out for the best interests of the entire student body. I for one would happily sign a recall petition. He truly hinders any positive things the board and superintendent try to do for our schools.

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» Tina Fanucchi on 12.10.08 @ 08:01 AM

I’ve been the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation for over nine years, and during my tenure I’ve worked with three Santa Barbara School District Superintendents, various School Board Members and multiple campus leaders, all intelligent, strong and focused professionals.

I’ve witnessed this practice of public ridicule towards our educational leaders at every school board meeting I’ve ever attended. It’s now become an acceptable and anticipated practice to verbally abuse our educational champions through every vehicle possible, regardless of the facts or circumstances.

I’ve had a few challenges with some of these professionals, but
these disagreements were worked through and resolved in a respectable and constructive manner, with the focus always on “what’s best for the students?” I don’t find it beneficial or conducive to our students or community to allow a small few to grandstand for their own personal agenda. Personalities may not always mesh, but as; professionals, concerned parents and educational champions, we must put our own egos aside and remain focused on resolving current and future educational challenges, working collectively and respectively is the only way to that end.

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» IEP on 12.10.08 @ 08:16 AM

Ms. Harter,
As the parent of a child who receives some special education services, I strongly object to your phrase, “How convenient that special education issues started to rear their head during this same time frame.” Your implication is that the issues are not/were not legitimate, and were only a fabrication by a board member you happen to disagree with. Excuse me, but the damages inflicted on the special education community, most particularly the children who are most at-risk and their families who have endured much, by the most recent hire—selected and supported by Sarvis and his staff—are incalculable. Do not dismiss these legitimate issues in such a callous manner to score a political point.

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» Concerned Citizen on 12.10.08 @ 08:16 AM

Fellow parents and citizens - take your heads out of the sand. Ad hominem attacks on Bob Noel does nothing to cure the disease that has taken over the District since Mr. Sarvis has infected it. “Real leadership” means making difficult choices and if one of those choices is to curtail the blatant mismanagement of the Santa Barbara School Districts by firing Mr. Sarvis then you must do it. Platitudes about “challenge” and “direction” are not cutting it. Ms. Harter, quit making excuses for yourself, the rest of the board, and Mr. Sarvis. The evidence is clear and lengthy of mismanagement. Who and what will you blame but yourselves when Mr. Noel is gone?

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» KKG on 12.10.08 @ 09:05 AM

I agree. His comments have been an embarrassment to the community for years. If someone is going to serve on a board, it would be useful if they tried for work cooperatively with others board members and staff instead of writing letters to the editor and creating chaos within the organization.

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» Like Noel on 12.10.08 @ 10:28 AM

No, it is Sarvis who should step down!

After all, the problems of the school district are caused by Saris not by Noel. Noel is the whistleblower and some would like to silence him and cover things up and keep them from the public.
This is not the way to improve education and solve problems.

Shame in you!

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» RE: IEP on 12.10.08 @ 10:38 AM

I think you miss the point. She is not saying that the problem is insignificant, she is saying that Noel is only using it for a political football. He also states, quite correctly that Santa Barbara’s latino/latina students’ test scores are abysmal compared to similar schools statewide. But again, rather than work proactively and creatively with the leadership, Noel just blabbers on and on and doesn’t work to address the problems. He doesn’t answer emails, or visit schools, or even stay awake during the board meetings. He just screams from the mountaintop which many confuse with leadership.

It’s not the message, it’s the messenger!

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» sbnative on 12.10.08 @ 10:53 AM

There is a real problem of governance in the SB School DistrictS…yes, there are two: Elementary and Secondary. The Board of Education cannot (does not and has not) EVER manage both of these districts well because their constituencies are different. The elementary district comprises the city of Santa Barbara and the secondary runs from Montecito to Goleta. Of COURSE, things are always in an uproar! Even so, both Bob Noel and Brian Sarvis have not served the students particularly well—but the rest of the board is also responsible for poor oversight. Let’s give them less to govern and have two separate boards for the two separate school districts.

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» Having Served on Boards on 12.10.08 @ 12:29 PM

This is a very well written piece. This is not about Dr. Sarvis, anyone drinking Kool-aide, a Svengali superintendent or special education. Bob Noel has not functioned or behaved in an appropriate fashion as a Board Member, particularly one elected to office. His behavior is not only counter productive, but destructive in nature. Boards are not about unanimity, but reasoned and rational discourse among its members, who may have differing views and perspective. It is also their obligation to have this discourse in an appropriate and legal manner.

Dr. Noel cannot have it both ways. He certainly has his rights as a citizen to protest, complain, engender the support of others. However as a board member he must do that within the obligations, trust and rules of order that are required once he takes his oath of office.

In the last ten years of his tenure on the SB School Districts Board of Directors there have been other Directors with varying points of view that have managed to work with three different superintendents in a productive manner for the betterment of the students in our community.

Dr. Noel is clearly an outlier who cannot function as a productive member of this, or any other board. Ms. Harter presents a reasoned argument with an appropriate solution. Bob Noel MUST resign and mount his ongoing and delusional campaign as a private citizen.

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» Tax paying parent on 12.10.08 @ 02:08 PM

Turning this personal instead of addressing how Sarvis has performed is a lame attempt to misdirect the public from the issues.
Why not defend Dr. Sarvis instead? Maybe because there is no defense that justifies the special ed mess, nor the 07 budget debacle.
Noel attempted to create an alternative to the current situation, and how convenient for Harter, it failed to come together. Now that failure can be made a personal motivation for pointing out the failures of the current administration.
Harter should point out her own initiatives that were successful in her eight years on the board, before she asserts her own standards of ‘leadership’.

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» teacher on 12.10.08 @ 06:17 PM

Say what you will about Mr. Noel. Ms. Harter is correct that he frequently shoots from the hip, and sometimes I wonder WHAT he is thinking! However, Noel is right on the money on this one. Sarvis has got to go.

I teach at a secondary school in the district and I can say that very few (if any) teachers or staff support him or his administration. He is the epitome of the “can’t-do” leader - always making excuses about why things won’t happen and how we can’t afford anything. Clearly missing is high quality leadership, concise vision, or the innovative thinking necessary for the district to move to a higher level of education. In this fiscal climate these skills are needed more than ever and Sarvis doesn’t have them. He consolidates power at the district level and leaves the principals with limited resources or power to change or improve their schools. The morale at the school sites is very low and it all stems from the leadership (or lack thereof) flowing down from the top.

Sarvis is a nice guy and may be effective in a non-leadership position, but the board should quietly begin looking for a dynamic leader to replace him sooner rather than later.

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» TomS on 12.10.08 @ 07:06 PM

Noel and his little buddy Gilbertsen both need to go.

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» Parent on 12.10.08 @ 10:27 PM

I am not surprised by Ms. Harter’s op-ed piece. She has always behaved like a bureaucrat only too eager to please the administrators. It is shameful to watch. Even blaming Noel for helping the community by trying to bring a school that would help the poor. What a waste of space and I voted for her! Huge mistake.

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» Kate Smith on 12.10.08 @ 10:43 PM

Why do you say “allegedly obstructed?” How can the special education morass be “the perfect front for retaliation against a superintendent who allegedly obstructed his charter plans.”

What you failed to mention, Nancy Harter, is that you, Annette Cordero, and Brian Sarvis flew to Sacramento to make sure that the American Charter High School was condemned.

How much did that cost the taxpayer, Nancy?

Google “School Corruption” and read about the Dallas School District MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT CARD SCANDAL.

Google “School Corruption” and read about the closed-session tape recording of the Capistrano (CUSD) school board—-they were all recalled and the Capistrano mayor and D.A. worked with the community to have the superintendent indicted by the Grand Jury on criminal charges.

Google “School Corruption” on Amazon.com and buy “School Corruption: the Betrayal of Our Children and the Public Trust” by Dr. Armand Fusco.

Then go to yankeeinstitute.org and read “10 Questions for School Boards” and buy Dr. Lewis Andrews “America’s Second Civil War: The Public Employment Complex vs. The Taxpayer.

Bill Cirone controls this county school system through the superintendents and the monthly meeting with them—-His Staff. He is a permanent member on the SELPA’s JPA and tells the Board of Supervisors and the County Board of Educatiion that they can’t investigate.

His Truancy and Parent Accountability Program has spread throughout the country. It is institutionalized racism.
There is systematic and systemic violations of state and federal laws.

Show us the SELPA VISA statements, which have been approved sight unseen by the JPA, up to $6,000 per month, 1998-2004.

Compare the all the CAHSEE Waivers with the students who were 1) denied Special Education supports and services, 2) placed on RTI (Refusal to Identify) or sent to La Cuesta, or 3) expelled or pushed into the School to Prison Pipeline.

Let us see the Robin Oakes evaluation of Diana Rigby. She was promoted to Assistant Superintendent and awarded State Administrator of the Year when she was the first school administrator found guilty of violations of ADA and IDEA.

Ask for the recommendations and her personnel file that got her a school superintendency in Concord, Massachussetts. The parents contacted us.

The corruption is so deep that it won’t be long before the system collapses.

The double-dipping into public funding: a full-time school district worker bills Medical and ADMHSA for special education services. Oh dear. Returned “unaccepted,” (good try, though) and the county is liable for $32 million in fraudulent billing.

I could go on and on. Anisse McNeil was doing exactly what she was told to do. Check out her recommendations and personnel file.

The SELPA keeps double books. Sharon Watt was on salary for $200,000 per year (litigation costs were on top of that) and she litigated anything—-even $1,500 requests for assessments—-and then charged a district $50,000 in legal fees.

Sarvis is just Cirone’s Crony. Co-opted boards, non-compos mentis complaint procedures, unethical and illegal programs, policies, illegal practices.

That’s nothing. There’s an unholy alliance between the schools, Juvenile Justice, and 47 non-profit agencies that feed on the Public Funding Trough.

The D.A. refuses to investigate charges of corruption and Brown Act violations; CDE and OCR are complicit.

With our ability to communicate with each other around the country, with ACLU, NAACP, and Marian Wright Edelman’s Children’s Defense Fund working on “Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline” (naacp.org), and with even the FBI posting “School Corruption” on it’s website—-how long will it be, Nancy Harter, before we learn just who should resign?

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» Concerned on 12.11.08 @ 02:31 PM

It certainly is interesting that instead of looking at one’s own house school board members not strong enough to stand up for justice will fight with a fellow member. Noel’s comments are real and should be taken seriously. How many corporations can watch a key position filled 7 times in less than a decade and believe that somehow the “leader” of the corporation should not be held responsible? How many times will it be ok to blame the parents for the failure of the district to meet its mandated obligation in providing appropriate special education services? Well 7 times in less than a decade the response has been everyone and everything else other than the leader of the District. Wake up Santa Barbara Noel is not the issue, the issue and the blame for the lack luster services and supports offered families in special education rest with the visionary for the District, Sarvis. It’s time the community had its eyes examined !

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» Kate Smith on 12.14.08 @ 09:14 AM

Read “LAUSD: Crisis Too Good To Waste” LA Times, December 11, 2008, page A25.

Then read the summary of Charles Kerchner’s book: “Learning From LA: Institutional Change in Public Education” at http://www.mindworker.com.

Santa Barbara is gripped by a School-Political-Industrial Complex; the “old school/old boy” network cannot tolerate criticism or scrutiny.

Just show us the VISA statements, and you’ll see that the taxpayer paid for Sarvis, Harter, and Cordero to fly to Sacramento. Did you have wine with your free lunch, dearies?

If I am incorrect, if you paid for your plane tickets, just tell me—-but no one answers my e-mails about millions of dollars of wasted or misappropriated educational funds. When I told the COE Board of Education about corruption, criminal activity, double books, cronyism and nepotism, educational funds going to political lobbies and litigation, “spiking” income for inflated retirement and bennies, hidden perks, and a self-aggrandizing bureaucracy while our children are criminalized and starved for education, I WAS TOLD BY CRAIG PRICE THAT I WOULD BE SUED FRO SLANDER AND LIBEL.

BRING IT ON! SUE ME! SUE “THE INVESTIGATOR,” ROBERT ERINGER, WHO WROTE ABOUT SCHOOL CORRUPTION, ADMINISTRATIVE MORAL BANKRUPTCY AND CALLED FOR CIRONE’S RESIGNATION. WENDY MCCAW WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOU TO COURT. HER PAPER WOULD GET A PULITZER PRIZE!!!

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