Attrition Update - March 26 Board Meeting

Below are the update attrition numbers as well as my comments to the school board at the March 26th meeting.

Good evening, Board members, Dr. Rice, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening.  My name is Blake Sacha.

I am here again tonight to talk about attrition.  Unfortunately, no additional attrition information has been provided by the district since the last board meeting.  Therefore, I must again provide you with data which I have been able to gather.  In 2012, 211 certified employees resigned or retired.  In 2013, 264 certified resigned or retired.  This is an increase of 25%.  In the first three months of 2012 51 certified employees resigned or retired, in 2013 this number was 47 and in the first three months of 2014 91 certified employees have resigned or retired.  This is an increase of 94%.

I hope you will all agree that an increase in attrition of 94% is a significant problem with a multi-year impact on the education of our children.

I would ask you to take the following actions

1. Request an open letter from Dr. Kishimoto to all employees talking positively about the future – done by Dr. K
2. Discuss attrition at the next board meeting - review the complete data and have a constructive and open discussion
3. Remove all items from the board agenda other than budget approval and development of a hiring/retention plan until these items are complete
4. Request a review of a hiring plan at the next board meeting - provide teachers and the community with a Principal hiring time line – started by Dr. Rice
5. Conduct exit interviews to understand why teachers are leaving
6. Pull in the date to offer contracts to teachers – started by Dr. Rice

2^nd, I would like to address the police investigation as it relates to attrition.  Ms. Burk indicated at the last meeting that the information which she and Mr. Colvin released to the police was the result of public records requests which she submitted.  If so, that information was publically available information and therefore should be immediately released to fellow board members and the public.

Instead this information has been used to link attrition to this police investigation.  Sources released information to blog sites implying that the attrition is due to fears regarding the police investigation.  I can only speculate regarding these sources but Mr. Colvin and Ms. Burk appear to be the only ones with access to this information.

The result of these rumors, innuendo and potential libel are that the 94 people who have resigned or retired in 2014 have been cast under suspicion.

Who does this include:

• Wendy Peterson, who didn’t work in the district in 2011
• Jane Hecker, who was lauded by members of this board three weeks ago

This needs to stop and it needs to stop tonight with the release of all information that was or is public record.  I have submitted a public records request for information currently in the possession of Ms. Burk or Mr. Colvin pertaining to this investigation which is or was public record.

Will you agree to take these 6 actions regarding attrition?

Will you release these documents this evening?

Will you do what is best for students and teachers?