Montecito Union School Principal in Limbo

» Mouse in the Corner on 03.15.10 @ 11:18 AM

Where are all the comments?

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» one voice on 03.16.10 @ 03:39 PM

Somebody please reassure me that this is a formality for the reorganization and not anything negative about Kris.  We need to know if the board is questioning her leadership.  The secrecy is causing unnecessary anxiety for the community.

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» ericgreenspan on 03.17.10 @ 07:55 AM

Personally, I think a statue should be built in honor of Kris Bergstrom and she should be reinstated with an apology and handed both the principal and superintendent jobs.

Here’s the board’s response:

Overview of Where We’ve Been, Where we Are, and Where we are Going: A Simple Fact Sheet

Fact:  There is a great deal of anger, hurt and confusion in the MUS community right now.  There is also significant support for Ms. Bergstrom among the MUS community.

Fact:  The decision made by the Board last Thursday was not rash and did not come out of the blue.  This process started last summer, with the completion and approval of the MUS Strategic Plan and the announcement of retirement of Dick Douglas as Superintendent.

Fact: The Board was asked, last fall, to examine the organizational structure of the school to make sure it supports the strategic goal of “Global Education Excellence.” The Board hired the expertise of School Services of California in November to conduct this organizational review with input from a large number of teachers, parents and community members.

Fact: The Board committed to an open, transparent, collaborative process.  There were regular updates, the creation of various tools such as a project timeline to help everyone understand the process and their opportunities for input, and the institution of new Monday morning town hall meetings for the express purpose of sharing thoughts and ideas.

Fact:  School Services sought many forms and types of feedback.: face to face interviews with the majority of our teachers, interviews with staff, parents, board members and community members, a community forum/town hall at MUS open to all, a written survey, the opportunity for anyone to contact School Services via email or phone, online research, research of other schools and “best practices” and School Services own experience and expertise.  Their regular updates were also made available to all via the MUS website.

Fact:  On March 8th, School Services presented their findings and conclusions to the Board and the public.

Fact:  Ms. Bergstrom has not been fired. California’s Education Code requires that if a district is considering, for any reason, not having a certificated school administrator back in the same position for the subsequent school year, the district has to notice that person by March 15th.

Fact: If the Board had not voted to release Ms. Bergstrom in accordance with this requirement, the Board could not have given the recommendations from the organization study any consideration.  Ms. Bergstrom is welcome to interview/apply for any administrative positions that come out of this process.

Fact: The work of the Board is not done.  We must continue on our path to hire a new superintendent.  We also must decide what we would like to do with the recommendations on the organization structure.  We need to decide what role we would like our new Superintendent to play in those decisions.

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» ericgreenspan on 03.17.10 @ 09:31 AM

Good post Informed.

My only comment is its not about the teachers or the parents, its about the kids. From what I can tell from 7 years of experience at MUS, Ms. B connected with them better than any school administrator I’ve ever witnessed.

I get why the board did what they did, procedurally, but its demoralizing to a hardworking, highly committed woman that has dedicated her life to our children and the results are evident. She should be commended, not offended.

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» sandman on 04.28.10 @ 04:21 PM

I have known Kris Bergstrom for 5 years. She is an exceptional Principal, a sensitive leader, honest and ethical as the day is long, and works tirelessly on behalf of students, teachers, and parents. The overwhelming majority of parents at MUS are in complete support of Ms. Bergstrom. I have served on 5 committees with her including the year-long Strategic Planning Committee, Special Education Inclusion Committee, PTA, etc. She is an excellent communicator, an effective decision-maker, she motivates students and teachers, and is an inspiration to all. Additionally, I have edited the school newsletter every 2 weeks for 4 years. I interact with a broad spectrum of teachers, parents, and MUS staff. There is over-the-top respect for Kris, appreciation for all she has brought to the school, and a personal connection with families that I have never witnessed before.

The fact that the MUS Board has released her pending hiring a new Superintendent is a story of its own: the Board has made a flat-out horrible decision, communicated it in a style that can only be called “botched”, and has alienated the entire parent body. The real motives behind their decisions may never be known. Being forthright has never been the Board’s strong point. They are clearly out of sync and out of touch with the overwhelming parent majority. At a recent Board meeting, the President had to extend the public speaking time by a factor of 3 to allow the auditorium of parents speak in support of Kris Bergstrom. She’s one of the very best things about our great school. The Board has done irreparable harm to Ms. Bergstrom’s reputation and to the community. Not once has the Board taken responsibility for initiating the parent backlash, not once have they spoken a word acknowledging Kris’s invaluable contributions to the school. The Board has shown its colors. Kris has always shown hers - golden.

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