THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 4, 1995 TAG: 9508040589
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Communication is the key to solving problems outlined in a survey on Manteo Middle School, Dare County School Superintendent Leon Holleman said Thursday.
``If there is one thing that came through loud and clear . . . it's that we need to communicate better,'' Holleman said. ``In that respect, the vision for the school needs to be better communicated and better understood by all the participants in the process - and that includes the superintendent's office.''
Earlier this week, the Dare County Board of Education released the findings of a North Carolina Department of Public Instruction report on Manteo Middle School.
The 42-page report was compiled by Doug Mabe, a personnel consultant for the state agency. It revealed conflict between school principal Bobby Hudspeth and faculty and parents at the school. The report was prepared at no cost to the Dare County system by the Department of Public Instruction. The local board requested the report after receiving a number of complaints from parents and faculty.
Holleman declined comment on what specific steps the school board may take to remedy parental and staff concerns at Manteo Middle School.
``In terms of areas to be addressed, that becomes a performance plan. We've spoken to our attorneys and they tell us that any plan like that goes into the employees' confidential file,'' Holleman said. ``So I can't discuss that.''
Some survey respondents said they were reluctant to openly discuss problems at the school because of fear of retribution.
``We have no history of that,'' said Holleman. ``I can't speak to what happened here before I came. But since I've been here, no one's been moved for making comments. No one's lost their job. The personnel regulations are very specific regarding that. We have no interest in violating those regulations.
``No one's on a witch hunt,'' Holleman said. ``The most important concern is that the school operate efficiently, and that we educate every child.''
Some teachers surveyed said that because of a close friendship between Holleman and Hudspeth, teachers and parents were left with ``nowhere to turn'' in the event of a problem.
``All I can say is, no matter what the relationship is that I have with any of our principals or faculty members, I would hope that my integrity would not color my judgment concerning someone's performance,'' Holleman said.
In the survey, 49 percent of school staff members say they had confidence in Hudspeth's ability to lead the school. However, 39 percent said they had little or no confidence in the principal.
Asked if he had confidence in Hudspeth's ability to lead, Holleman responded, ``I have confidence in all of our principals.''
Holleman said the survey was beneficial to the school, and that he would consider similar studies for all of the schools in the Dare County system. Three years ago, a similar survey was taken countywide among parents, students in upper grades and faculty members to determine attitudes about the system.
However, cuts in funding at the state level may mean that any future reports would have to be paid for by the system.
``The bottom line is that we need to open avenues of dialogue,'' Holleman said. ``We need to be able to discuss these concerns frankly, openly and honestly. But it's also important that we listen to each other.'' by CNB