Resident criticizes Moyers’ “bullying” management style
By Dan McLeister
For The Elmhurst Independent
Discussion about the lack of transparency and miscommunication by the administration of School District 205 about larger class sizes and the need for more teachers at York High School went deeper than just those two topics.
Twenty people, parents and teachers, spoke for more than an hour during public comments at a School Board meeting on March 22. Statements, both positive and negative, were made about Superintendent David Moyer’s leadership and about the Board of Education.
“We do not like his ‘bully’ management style,” stated Gina Brigham, an Elmhurst citizen. “We do not like how he instructs principals not talk to the Board or how he instructs staff that students talking at Board meetings is never appropriate. We do not like his continual acts of deception.”
Katy Padberg, president of the Elmhurst Teachers Council, said she has been meeting with Dr. Moyer throughout the school year to improve communications. Padberg said she was dismayed that there is still much work to be done.
Padberg noted there has been much public infighting within the community on social media and now at Board meetings with teachers and students. As a social studies teacher, Padberg said she supported free speech “but to what end?”
“At what point do we stop casting unfounded allegations and stop repeating false information and stop personal attacks on individuals and groups?” she posed. “Why are we resorting to adult bullying? That has no place in a district of this caliber. We are better than this. We need to work collaboratively.
“I am not here to point fingers, nor am I saying which side is right or which side is wrong. If we don’t start working together everyone loses.”
She proposed that after Spring Break, a summit be convened with representatives from the PTA, Teachers Council, building administrators and School Board members. This group would outline effective communications procedures for all parties, according to Padberg.
Speaking in support of Dr. Moyer was resident Jennifer Rosenberg who said that the Board of Education hired an award-winning and transformational leader.
“You owe him the support for what he was hired to do,” she said. “We owe him a chance to be open and collaborative. If we can’t work with him, we will struggle to find a qualified leader who wants to work in this District.”
“We cannot allow the concerns of some to drown out the voices of others and stifle the curiosity of others,” commented resident Carol Snyder. “Administrators and teachers are better equipped to examine the evidence.
“I hope that we can refrain from knee jerk reactions. We need to ask ourselves to be better human beings. I look forward to building bridges rather than roadblocks.”
On the other hand, citizen Lisa O’Halleran said District administrators have created angst. Employees are losing hope that things will get better and community members have lost confidence, she contended.
Joel Morris, a resident and former superintendent for District 205, stated that information is not being conducted in a transparent manner. Inevitably, he said, the result is misunderstanding and mistrust.
“I hope that that there is clear direction from the Board of Education with transparency to all stakeholders,” he said. “They have the right to engage in a robust discussion about resolutions.”
(There was long and loud applause after Morris’ comments.)
