Schools

Rockwood School Board, Administrators Hear Frank Opinions

Rockwood taxpayers step to podium to give their opinion about recent developments in the school district.

A handful of people offered hard-hitting observations about the leadership of the district during the public comment portion of last week's Rockwood school board meeting.

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

"It is not always easy for parents and others to come forward. And we realize you don’t hear all the issues," Tyrrell told the school board. "We feel the district's layers are too thick. We'd like fair, open and honest communication, and are hoping it’s acceptable."

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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 Elliott Davis—none are favorable comments," he said.

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

He said he believes 65 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.

Kriegshauser said Rockwood no longer can rely on funding from local property taxes.

"We must begin to think of our resources; we need donations from companies and individuals," he said.

Dale Redhage, of Ballwin, questioned $206,000 in district expenses in what he said are employee take-home vehicles.

"Taxpayers' money is putting fuel into those vehicles," he said. "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."

Redhage said he attended a recent town hall meeting in Wildwood hosted by the Concerned Patrons of Rockwood.

"I participated at that meeting," he said. "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."

Redhage unfurled a lengthy printout, several feet long, of what he said were 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. 

Redhage 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 has 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?'"

Ayotte said he and his wife deliberately chose to purchase a house within Rockwood boundaries so their children could attend a Rockwood school.

"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 and a member of the Chesterfield city council, said he has lived in the Rockwood district for 30 years. 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," Nation said. "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 will not pass.

"I implore the board to do something meaningful about all this," Nation said. "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."

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