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School employees protest appointment of principal
By BARBARA BEHRENDT © St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2001 INVERNESS -- The School Board on Tuesday appointed Michael Mullen as the new principal at Citrus High School, but they delayed action on the new Citrus Springs Middle School principal after a half-dozen employees from that school told the board about problems at that school. Superintendent David Hickey was recommending that Citrus Springs Middle School's assistant principal Bill Farrell become the new principal, replacing Mary Curry, who will become executive director of management services at the district office on July 1. But employees said Curry, Farrell and others at the school had not treated them fairly. The employees claimed that the school leaders had blacklisted highly qualified workers, had urged employees to change paperwork they had filled out about their jobs and had promised to give future employers glowing and sometimes untrue reports about the workers if they agreed to go elsewhere. Claire Lennerton, a former Teacher of the Year nominee from the school, said she expected to become tenured this year. But she said she was called in to the administration office this year and told that she would not get her tenure. She also was told that if she stayed, she would remain on annual contract, which means she would not achieve tenure. She said if she decided to leave, however, her future employer would be told she had been on tenure. Like other employees speaking to the board, Lennerton said she was asked to say on her "letter of intent" form that she didn't plan to return. Other employees were asked to change their forms to say they weren't coming back. "I don't think that I've done anything to warrant such deliberately demeaning treatment," she said. Valerie Bazarte, a teacher for 21 years, described how it took her longer than usual to get tenure in the district and this year she was asked to resign her long-time coaching job. She said she was told someone overheard her swearing in the hallway, but she said she did not know anything else about the incident, including who made the complaint. "Something needs to be done with the way they are handling teachers at Citrus Springs Middle School," Bazarte said. "People want you to not ask questions." Jeanna Gullett, who was there supporting friends at the school, said she didn't understand what was happening there, especially given the current teacher shortage. "I would think you would be doing everything in your power to be keeping quality teachers," she said. After the teachers and others spoke, Hickey told the board he was recommending Farrell for the principalship at the school. But board member Carol Snyder asked for the issue to be tabled. The board had to take a break to determine whether the issue could be tabled. When they returned, Board Chairwoman Patience Nave said the board could table the issue, but it would have to be addressed at the next regular board meeting, on June 12. The majority voted to table the issue. Opposing were board members Pat Deutschman and Ginger Bryant. Hickey recommended Mullen for the Citrus High School job saying he "will do a great job in leadership at one of our fine high schools." Mullen, 40, has been assistant principal at Lecanto High School since 1998. He has worked as a teacher, coach and athletic director at the Lecanto schools since 1995. He came to the area from Baker County, where he served in similar jobs after a four-year stint in the Army. He got the call on the job from Hickey late Monday. "I was very excited and I look forward to it," Mullen said. While he said he has enjoyed his time at Lecanto, he actually lives in Inverness and felt comfortable about the move. "I'm a part of the Inverness community even though I love the kids at Lecanto. Most of them I've known since the sixth grade," he said. Mullen will take over the job July 1, replacing Gary Foltz, who Hickey chose not to reappoint for the new year.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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