Lamoille South Superintendent Tracy Wrend has come under fire for firing a Peoples Academy teacher five years ago, and the school board has been criticized for inaction — especially after a federal jury determined last month that she had retaliated against the teacher in firing him.
But support for the superintendent has also slowly come in. Some of it more slowly than others.
A request Oct. 1 to all seven members of the Lamoille South school board for email correspondence regarding the lawsuit against Wrend turned up three emails from one board member.
However, there were more emails that board members didn’t turn over, because they were unaware that the request for email correspondence was, in fact, a public records request.
The board members turned over their emails to the central office about a week after the original request, and the office sent them to the newspaper, albeit by postal mail, which meant they arrived past press deadline for another issue.
All in all, 16 people wrote to the board with opinions on the matter, including those whose emails had already been provided to the paper.
Ten people offered support for Wrend, four people called for her termination or suspension, and two wanted some more detective work.
That is on top of the few people who last week spoke in support of Wrend at a school board meeting, where the fired teacher — David Bain — was in silent attendance.
Here’s a sampling of comments from the community:
• Susan Moore worked from 1979 to 2007 as a speech and language pathologist in the school district when Wrend was director of student services. Moore said Oct. 6, “She has personal and professional integrity, and I am secure in continuing to have confidence in her as a fair and just administrator for all students and teachers.”
• Marty Sorell-Lacasse, a former music teacher-turned-principal at Stowe Elementary School, said Oct. 6 that she has been “distressed” with what she’s read about Wrend, saying “many of the opinions being expressed are untrue and unfair.” She added, “Even the finest teachers are human, and make mistakes. Tracy has consistently helped people learn from their mistakes and goes to great lengths to create opportunities for them to grow as educators, when they are willing to do so.”
• Morristown planning director Todd Thomas said on Oct. 4 that Wrend “has been a great help to me professionally, in helping me craft the education chapter of the town plan.”
• Linda Hunter Fucile said Oct. 3 she is “categorically opposed to trial by media and trial by public opinion.” She called for an inquiry into all staff resignations and firings over the past five years. “I am sure you will all agree that gossip and rumor has ruined many a reputation and that it is the board’s duty to create a climate of transparency to the community.”
• Many of Wrend’s detractors have aired their thoughts in this newspaper, but one of them was included in the latest round of correspondence with the board. James Brewster wrote on Sept. 18, “It’s time to move on and hire a new superintendent who provides leadership, has integrity and believes in transparency. That is not what we have now.”
The board itself came up with a statement last week in executive session in support of Wrend: “With the information at hand, both Tracy Wrend and the former Morristown School Board have our support that the proper process took place surrounding the dismissal of David Bain.”
The board did not speak as one voice, however. Leigh Pelletier, a board representative from Stowe, abstained from a vote approving the statement, and later resigned from the board, citing its handling of the Wrend situation.
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