ThisWeek CW 12/18/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/12/15/split-vote-gives-supt–hoover-new-3-year-contract.html

The Groveport Madison Board of Education approved a new three-year contract for Superintendent Bruce Hoover Dec. 10, despite protests from the Groveport Madison Local Education Association and some residents.

The vote was 3-2, with board President Bryan Shoemaker and Vice President Libby Gray casting the two no votes.

Afterward, Shoemaker said that, regardless of the opposition votes, the board remains supportive of the administration.

“Although we don’t always agree with one another, we all want what’s best for the students,” he said.

Three retired teachers who are district residents asked board members at the Dec. 10 meeting not to approve a new contract with Hoover without further investigation. Additionally, more than 70 members of the GMLEA were on hand to reiterate their vote of no confidence against the superintendent.

Residents Cheryl Ann Raver-Irving, Terry Hoffman and Barry Alcock all expressed displeasure with Hoover’s leadership.

“We’re telling the board that we do not support this superintendent,” Hoffman said. “Where is the data that proves that the superintendent has been part of improving the district since he has come here?”

Hoffman said he has lived in the district for 37 years and retired after teaching at Groveport Madison for 30 years. Raver-Irving said she has lived in the district for more than 50 years and lost her job as a French teacher during a previous failed levy campaign. She, too, expressed frustration at the board’s willingness to increase spending on administrators.

“I will only support future levies if they go to the children and not into the pockets of others,” Raver-Irving said.

Alcock said that as a retired teacher, he believes students are the real “bosses” and are the ones who deserve a raise.

“We should pay our bosses, those kids in the classroom,” Alcock said.

He reiterated a concern posed originally by the GMLEA during its no-confidence vote against Hoover, stating that Hoover should be evaluated twice a year, with those evaluations being made available to the public, similar to teaching staff.

The GMLEA had requested Hoover’s evaluations but were told the documents were not immediately available. However, ThisWeek was able to secure a copy of Hoover’s most recent evaluation; district Communications Director Mary Guiher said that all previous evaluations are also available.

According to Hoover’s 2013-14 evaluation documents, the board found that he met nearly all of his goals, noting that only one objective, “improve reading, math, science achievement” was considered “in-progress” at the end of the previous school year.

The new contract does not increase Hoover’s base salary over his original 2012 contract salary of $120,000 per year. It also does not specifically lay out measures listed in the previous contract allowing for $30,000 in performance compensation.

Instead, the new contract says if Hoover achieves a “satisfactory” performance rating from a majority of board members, he will be entitled to a salary increase of “not less than 1 percent annually.”

The new contract increases Hoover’s monthly stipend from $500 to $700, which according to the contract is provided as salary instead of as reimbursement. The board also approved an increase in the annual annuity contribution paid by the district, from $7,000 a year to $9,000 a year.

His insurance benefits and retirement contributions will continue to be paid by the district, as they were under the previous contract.

Following an hour-long executive session to further discuss details in closed session, the board emerged to vote 3-2 in favor of approving Hoover’s contract.

In a written response to Hoover’s new contract, GMLEA President Joy Bock said the board “has been made aware of the very serious concerns that the teachers, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other members of GMLEA have about how leadership decisions are affecting our students’ educational opportunities.

“GMLEA does not get a say in those decisions, but we will continue to work diligently on behalf of our students and our community to do what is in our power to ensure that students have the opportunities for success that they deserve.”