Head Start principal’s job is in jeopardy

[Guest guest]

If they truly are going after her because of the reporting of mold in the

building (which isn't the first time people were retaliated against because

they spoke out about this issue), we should all be ever vigilant about

protecting the teachers and other school personnel who have come out to speak

about Boston's Schools.

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Galveston County Daily News

Head Start principal’s job is in jeopardy

_By Rhiannon Meyers_

(http://galvestondailynews.com/contact.lasso?ewcd=d3b50f42b8a6ebaa14db3521c84fef\

258a570c787301de7e2c826107fc48e676)

The Daily News

Published June 16, 2009HITCHCOCK — Hitchcock public school district

trustees will meet today to discuss the contract, duties and discipline of a

principal accused by the superintendent of insubordination, lying, poor

management skills and failing to work well with others.

But the director of Kids First Head Start said the district is trying to

get rid of her for reporting mold in the Head Start building, 5700 FM 2004,

as well as lodging complaints with the state.

Doreatha told the Texas Education Agency the district claimed it

was paying for transportation of Head Start students, even though a federal

grant was paying for that transportation.

She said she also complained to the Texas Department of Agriculture the

district padded the numbers of students on free and reduced lunch by counting

students who were absent in an effort to get more funding than the

district deserved.

Both programs are funded with federal dollars.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is investigating the free lunch

claims, while TEA auditors will visit the district today to comb through

transportation records over the past two years, Superintendent Mike Bergman

said.

The district is complying with the state audits, Bergman said.

has been on administrative leave for weeks. She has filed two

grievances against the district claiming she is being retaliated against for

blowing the whistle on the district.

Trustees will hear her grievances in July, Bergman said.

Bergman said he put on administrative leave because she failed to

maintain effective working relationships with staff and parents, she ignored

his directives, and parents and teachers complained about her.

He declined to say what he planned to recommend to trustees regarding

’s job. requested her hearing be held in open session.

, who is black, has also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission against the district, claiming Bergman, who

is

white, treated her unfairly when she complained about mold.

After she complained he was treating her unfairly because she was black,

he placed her on administrative leave, she said.

said she declined mediation from the commission.

said she had done nothing wrong and hoped trustees allow her to

keep her job.

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At A Glance

WHAT: Hitchcock public school district regular meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. today

WHERE: Hitchcock public school district boardroom/conference facility,

8004 North Railroad

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