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Supporters spoke up for Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire at Monday's school board meeting, even applauding him three times, but still, his future remains uncertain.
Board member Dan Robinson made a motion appointing board president "Ron Yeiter as an investigator to work with local school attorney Max E. Reed to investigate and report back to this board whether any cause exists to pursue the termination/cancellation of the superintendent's contract, and the teacher's contract" of McGuire. The motion was approved by Robinson, Deb Wiggins, Gene England, Yeiter and Tammy Dalton, with Cathy Folk opposed and Chuck Sauders not present.
Before the vote was taken, Folk said "things" were going on that she was not informed about, opening the board up to liability. She said she hoped all the information was open to all board members and that the board was treading on some serious criminal ground. She questioned the legality of comments Yeiter made on Channel 22 news Monday, saying it may be libel, while acknowledging she also was interviewed for the news station.
Wiggins said as board members, they can not control what the press says unless they are quoted directly. With all the innuendo made in the community, she said with Robinson's motion, they are showing they are following a due process. The due process lets the board put the issue to rest.
Any board member can make a motion during the meeting without notifying the other board members ahead of time that they are going to make the motion, Wiggins said.
Reed interrupted the discussion between Wiggins and Folk, saying Yeiter can let the banter continue if he wants, but nothing is gained from it.
Toward the end of the meeting, Robinson also spoke out against all the "innuendo" in the community. To McGuire's supporters of McGuire, Robinson said he recognized and appreciated them. He said he believes Warsaw is a fine school corporation, as well as its teachers and administrators. He recognized their job is a difficult one as is the superintendent's job is extremely difficult. But there have been assertions made that he wants to address.
First, while it's true that the school board is a new one, the board actually has only one person new to serving on a school board, Deb Wiggins. The other members have served previously on school boards. While Wiggins is new, she has served on many other boards and has some teaching experience.
"I don't appreciate the assertion that we're clueless," said Robinson. "We're not clueless."
The second assertion, he said, is that the board is taking direction from a vocal minority from the southern part of the county. Robinson denied that, saying no one from Claypool, Atwood and Silver Lake, where the elementary schools were closed, voted for him or Wiggins.
"We take whatever we do very seriously. Very seriously," said Robinson. He said he doesn't feel those assertions are justified. "I don't even go into the southern part of the county that often."
During the meeting, John Armacost, who operates the Web site www.warsawspeaks.org, said he appreciates the board's and administration's encouragement of public discussion on the issue, which needs to continue.
Tina Embry, an employee of WCS, said she spoke on behalf of many when she says they fully support McGuire and the higher administration. McGuire has always been there for the kids and always will be. Her comments were applauded.
Also speaking in support of McGuire were Lynn Pulliman and Tony Etienne. Pulliman said McGuire has "been good for this community and did an outstanding job." Etienne said he thinks McGuire is a leader. "I appreciate, very much, his leadership." Their comments, too, were applauded.
Becky Thomas told the board to look at every direction when making their decision and the board has many supporters.
