By Mike Van Meter
The Bulletin
Bend Community School has fired its two full-time classroom teachers -- less than three weeks into the school year.
Virginia Graham and Michael Schneider were told to leave the school at the end of the day Friday.
Barbara Casey, a member of the community school's board of directors, said the two newly hired teachers didn't turn out to be a good fit for the technology-rich, student-centered program.
"Our full-time employees need to have a better sense of technology and its importance," she said.
Casey said Joan Swinney and Greg Freeman, who had been part-time prior to this week, will fill in for the fired teachers until replacements can be found.
Graham, who moved from West Virginia to take the job, signed an agreement not to say anything negative about the school. She said, however, "I can tell you I did not leave willingly."
Schneider, who moved from New York, refused to sign a vow of silence. He was reluctant to talk about the firings, though, as he is seeking his job back.
"It was a shock to me and I'm very upset about it," Schneider said. "The thing that's probably most disturbing to me is that the children would think I voluntarily walked out on them."
Both said they considered their time with the students very rewarding and were saddened to no longer be in the classroom.
The private alternative school -- supported through grants and tax money from the Bend-LaPine School District -- is just entering its third year. Still, it already has gone through several major personnel shakeups.
The most notable previous firing came in the fall of 1995, when the school's facilitator was asked to leave. Since the school is private, its teachers are not part of a union and thus have little protection from such actions.
This summer, the community school hired more staff -- including the two new instructors, both accorded master teacher status.
Classroom veterans, they had been widely recognized for teaching excellence. In fact, Graham was honored at the White House in 1989.
Now the school needs help.
"In the beginning, we sought people with non-traditional educational backgrounds," said board member Dennis Maloney. "Then we went out and thought we would find people who were highly experienced. This time, rather than assuming we've got the expertise, we're asking people with expertise to help us make the right decision."
Many parents of the private middle school's 40 students were notified by phone over the weekend. Others received letters. Students got the word Monday in class.
By the end of the school's first year, the Bend-LaPine and community school boards were seriously at odds.
Chief among concerns was the school's lack of accountability. The school's early reports to the Bend-LaPine board were perceived to lack focus and detail. School goals were criticized for being vague and "touchy-feely." The reports were criticized for failing to detail the classroom instructional program.
An independent evaluation of the school at the June conclusion of the its second year showed marked progress, but the Bend-LaPine board continues to keep a close eye on the school. Tom Hayes, Bend-LaPine curriculum director, said the district wants to be certain "the transition plan ensures education continues for the kids" in the wake of the firings.