School District Closes Book On Madison School Dispute
They were promised a thorough review by “a team of independent and objective individuals.” They got a couple of meetings over coffee.
Spokane School District 81 has closed the book on a four-year feud at Madison Elementary without a promised outside investigation.
“What they are saying is they have investigated themselves and cleared themselves,” said Nancy McLaughlin, one of more than 35 parents who complained to the Spokane School Board about Madison Principal Shari Kirihara’s conduct.
Two district administrators met with Kirihara to discuss complaints that she ridiculed students, ignored allegations of physical abuse, undermined parent organizing efforts, and failed to tell parents when children were being psychologically evaluated.
The administrators later ruled out misconduct and announced that Kirihara will stay on as principal. No parents or school employees were questioned.
“In this case, the issues have been visited, revisited and at some point we need to move forward with opening of school,” said Associate Superintendent Cynthia Lambarth.
Lambarth said the review consisted of two meetings with Kirihara. The administrator blamed the incomplete review on the complaining parents, who declined to talk to a proposed investigator.
The parents rejected the offer. They said the investigator, Fred Schrumpf, couldn’t be impartial because he has worked as a district consultant.
Since then, parents have gathered more than 60 signatures on petitions to the school board seeking Kirihara’s ouster. Others are considering transferring their children to schools outside the district.
The parent group filed a 270-page complaint with the school board in June.
“The stuff happened. It’s not made up,” said a Madison teacher who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.
Kirihara declined to comment. In a prepared statement, she wrote: “I am looking forward to a positive and productive school year for students and parents at Madison School.”
Administrators, faculty and parents believe much of the conflict is caused by Kirihara’s management style, which critics describe as “cruel and autocratic” and supporters say is “tough, for the sake of high academic standards.”
The flap recently spurred parents in another Spokane neighborhood to publicly criticize Kirihara.
Last month, 17 parents signed a letter to the school board complaining about Kirihara’s demeanor while principal at Finch Elementary from 1985 to 1992.
“When she was reassigned to Madison Elementary, our attitude and only comments were, ‘Thank God that she is gone, now she is their problem,”’ the letter states.
“She grates on people and (ticks) them off,” said Paul Eckman, one of the parents who signed the letter. “But as for her professional abilities, the way she ran the school was OK.”
, DataTimes