Prior Lake American - Superintendent plans to step down - Comments

Good question. Here's

Savage Guy — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:15:32 -0600

Good question. Here's another one for you. Why did the teachers union wait until after the election to go work to rule? Why did none of the sitting board members talk very much about the teachers contract? Were they really going to decrease class sizes if the referendum passed or were they going to use a big chunk of that money to give in to the union?

The union has pretty much received what they wanted in the last few contracts and we have ten plus consecutive years of sitting in a negative general fund balance position to show for it. The board needs to take a stand this time and the union needs to recognize that there is a finite amount of money and very little community support for their cause right now. Most of us have to pay for a big chunk of our health insurance premium. Teachers should be no different. That's life in 2007.

I too agree that Laker Since

Howe — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:24:32 -0600

I too agree that Laker Since Birth and Lori have excellent questions. School board is not a game ~ it is a very serious responsibility that affects the welfare of over 7000 children in the community not to mention about 1000 staff personnel. Chris claimed over and over he was running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, but now refuses to be on the finance committee. I commend board chair Mike Murray for offering him this position.

Chris, the time for game playing is over. Why are you not on the finance committee? Also, as a resident and tax payer, I have a right to know: are you or aren't you going to sue the school district? If you are not willing to answer this question you have a moral responsibility to resign your position.

We the public have a right to get answers to these basic questions. Chris, it is either time to talk or step aside.

I am looking for CAG to get involved in this discussion and also demand answers. CAG wants accountability from our elected officials. I couldn't agree more. Chris, its time to become accountable.

I think Laker Since Birth

Lori Carlson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:44:13 -0600

I think Laker Since Birth poses a very valid question. Why wouldn't Lind jump at the chance to have a say on the finance committee, given his comments during the campaign about wanting to balance the budget?

Chris Lind has me confused!

Laker Since Birth — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:12:14 -0600

Chris Lind has me confused! During his school board campaign he stated many times (In the Q and A and in the Profile of Candidates) that he was running because he wanted to balance the budget for the schools. He stated that the school district was fiscally irresponsible, the way the State distributed funds were unfair and that he could keep all of the programs (even open the new school) even if the referendum failed. He also stated that if he did not balance the budget he would step down.
According to Saturday's Prior Lake American Chairman Michael Murray asked Chris Lind if he would serve on the finance committee. Chris Lind declined saying he was more comfortable serving in other capacities. Wouldn't someone who ran his campaign on making sure the school district was fiscally responsible jump at the chance to be on the finance committee? Wouldn't the finance committee give him the best chance to fulfill his campaign promises?
I am confused. Why would someone who claimed to know how to balance the budget shy away from the chance to serve on the one committee that he wanted to fix? Could someone please explain this to me?

I have this great idea on

Robert Thibodeaux — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:16:20 -0600

I have this great idea on deciding what Chris should do.

Why don't we ask for names of people who would like to be on the board.

Then we could list them all on a piece of paper and let all the people in the school district choose which one they want.

Then the folks that most people choose would get to be on the board and we could know what people want.

Oh, wait I think we did that last tuesday.

I can very much understand

fairgame101 — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:17:00 -0600

I can very much understand Westerhaus'reasons for leaving because to stay would only put a much unneeded strain on the board with Lind on it and being a better man he has chosen to step away and hope things normalize. I would think Lind would see and this and do the same so that the Board could concentrate on our childrens education and not some haha I got you back scenerio.Lind to me does not have our kids best interest at heart and should move along.

AMEN.

JeffMN — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:33:42 -0600

AMEN.

In my book, he is indeed

JeffMN — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:26:32 -0600

In my book, he is indeed running. If I don't like someone at my job (or my boss... how many of us REALLY like our boss) that doesn't mean I'm going to just quit.

And you are correct - the voters have spoken - and apparently they don't agree with what seems to be perceived as what's "best" for this school district. Now that this has been established, people need to join together to figure out how this is going to work in the future. Westerhaus apparently has no interest in that, indicated to me by his departure.

Also, standing up for what is right is subjective - what you and Mr. Westerhaus think is right may not reflect what everyone else thinks is right. I trust Mr. Westerhaus regarding Mr. Lind - he's not willing to lead in a tough time. So as I said, farewell.

Yes, Dr. Westerhaus would

Savage_voter — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:02:14 -0600

Yes, Dr. Westerhaus would have to obey a decision handed down from the school board, but that would be a decision the whole school board of which the majority are people he would receive direction from. So your argument that he has to work for Chris is only partly true. He is working with 7 others besides Chris and even though it would be a hard pill to swallow, it would not be impossible. As a matter of fact he will have to do that from January till June when he leaves.

I was thinking of how our country runs. Our government quite frequently replaces the Speaker of the House with whichever party is on top. There is always friction in our form of elections and government, but it works because we can look at the greater good the country deserves and quite frequently women and men set aside their pride and personal beliefs to go forward. This is what I think is required in this situation.

That's a logical way to look

Rational Thought — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:51:42 -0600

That's a logical way to look at it, but I think it's slightly different. The rest of the board can work WITH Chris, as a colleague. Dr. Westerhaus has to work under him, and have him as a boss. I think it's a little different in the last case. The rest of the school board could vote against Chris if they wanted to on eveyrthing, just to put him out. Dr. Westerhaus, however, couldn't disobey a decision that was handed down in part from Chris.

My last paragraph was put

Savage_voter — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:30:53 -0600

My last paragraph was put there because it seems everytime I post here someone says I should get involved. I just didn't want a half page of someone encouraging me to get involved, because I am involved and get a little insulted when the assumption is that anyone posting here is not involved. Sorry, didn't mean to come across so short, I was tired.

I have worked in schools and know that all hirings and firings are ultimately the responsibility of the school board. They are Dr. Westerhaus' boss as well as every other employee. I have had to do negotiations with school boards as an employee and know the process. My point is still valid. The school board is the boss. They oversee the running of the schools and it's ultimately the people the voters can hold accountable. No, they don't run the day to day operations,but my point about them firing Chris is valid. Dr. Westerhaus did not fire Chris or any other employee. Even Dr. Westerhaus presented his resignation to them. The Prior Lake Savage School board did ultimately fire Chris and we're not seeing them having the same issues Dr. Westerhaus is.

Just my thoughts.

I understand your point, and

Rational Thought — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:50:02 -0600

I understand your point, and my comment was about your last paragraph about not needing a lecture on getting involved because you already were ... lost in translation in type I'm sure.

I see it differently for the school board that work with Chris, because a) they are elected officials and the superintendent is not and b) I personally think that hirings and firings should have very little to do with the school board but procedure. You have professional, qualified, full-time staff in a district for a reason. The school board in my mind is there to simply hold administration accountable, not run the day to day activities and the like.

To you're last point, I'm a Dr. Westerhaus supporter and I wish he would stay. I think he is someone that could lead the district through this time with flying colors. However, I also know him well enough to know that this decision was not a rash or knee jerk decision. It was difficult and thought out, and goes to the depths of who he thinks he is and what he believes in. In that, I hold him in the utmost respect.

I don't think that a

Savage_voter — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:19:57 -0600

I don't think that a personal attack on me was called for. I'm not attacking you. Just trying to argue for him staying.

My argument is that I don't think one person elected to the school board should warrant him leaving. That's my opinion. Him leaving now does leave a lot of issues within the school district. That is fact.

The fact that you wouldn't work with somebody you terminated is your opinion. The school current school board and school board elect have not stated they cannot work with him and are threatening to quit. They ultimately fired Chris, not Dr. Westerhaus. He recommended it. If they are willing to go forward, I would think that Dr. Westerhuas should be able to do the same.

I guess I shouldn't puff out my chest and argue for Dr. Westerhaus to stay and in my opinion, leave a legacy of pulling the school district together and show everyone how to be a leader when it's not going the way he wants. To put aside any problems he has with the current situation for the good the school district. I will quit agruing for him to do so. Obviously his supporters want him to leave.

Question or 2 for Tom, how

PLpayer — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:59:29 -0600

Question or 2 for Tom, how much did the "peaceful playground" concept cost to develop? My student's class has been inundated with peaceful playground info, can this please be applied to the administration that is forcing it on the students? The students are told they have to be peaceful and get along, but the chief administrator just leaves?

Why do we have less than 60% of 11th grade students below grade level in math? Your system has failed our students in my opinion.

To the "yes" voters: If you feel so strongly about raising our taxes, write a voluntary check to the school. If each of the people that voted "yes" would do write that check and give the average $592 that taxpayers were told it would cost, the district would now have over $2,000,000.00 to spend as they choose. And the "no" voters would not be forced to pay for spending that they don't believe in and obviously is funding a failed system of glitz and glamour.

"It’s a testament to his

PL Homeboy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:02:16 -0600

"It’s a testament to his consummate professionalism."

I think I would state it as "his consummate PERSONALISM". His statements are all about how HE personally cannot work within the situation.

Professionalism moves forward, regardless of the obstacles. Which is what I believe our School District will do.

That being said, I hope Dr. Westerhaus reconsiders.

Superintendent plans to step down

Joanna Miller — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:16:37 -0600

By Joanna Miller