"Just the Facts" on school district personnel turnover

This letter is an honest effort to bring clarity and facts to the rumors, innuendos and often half-truths that frequent this page when referring to the Grand Coulee Dam School District (GCDSD). The local community, in particular the parents of children attending a Lake Roosevelt school, deserve to know the facts. Each of the issues to be addressed is complex and complicated. However, we will endeavor to address the highlights of each matter as space permits. Because of space limitations, the issues will be addressed in three separate installments or weekly editions of The Star. Each installment will cover a separate topic or area of concern related to the GCDSD. The first installment will cover school district staff turnover, the second installment fiscal management, and the third installment discipline.

ISSUE: School District

Personnel Turnover

THE FACTS: Sixteen employees left the GCDSD at the close of this school year. That’s certainly not ideal. Staff stability is typically a preferred goal. The good news, however, is that to date all but three positions have already been filled with highly qualified people. Interestingly, some of those new hires are actually people returning to the district after prolonged absences.

Based on the results of an exit survey and personal conversations, the reasons for leaving the district, or public education entirely, were as varied as the individuals responding. Reasons included seeking better compensation, spousal relocation, retirement, and perceived limited community appreciation and/or support. It is noteworthy that staff personal relationships, including supervisor support, were consistently mentioned as district strengths.

Overlooking the social context of the past two years could lead to some very misleading conclusions. Most experienced public school educators agree that the last two years have been the most difficult and challenging times faced in memory. Disruptions due to COVID and related events have had a continuing detrimental effect on the education system across the state and nation. As one example of the negative impact of these two tumultuous years on school leaders, nine of fourteen regional school district superintendents have either retired or resigned this year alone. The cascading effect of superintendents, principals, and school administrators leaving the education industry or reorienting within the industry has been enormous and potentially long lasting.

For the suggestion to be made that this exodus of talented people from the GCDSD is the result of the actions of one person is simply not supportable by the evidence. Visit this column next week for the second installment which will address Grand Coulee Dam School District fiscal management.

The Grand Coulee Dam School District

Board of Directors

George LaPlace

Rich Black

Ken Stanger

Shannon Nicholson

Alex Tufts