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Show Prin. Hlarold Hawker answers School Board charges Rumors are still circulating in this area and throughout the state to the effect that the reason for my dismissal as principal of Payson High School was a moral one. I do not know to what these rumors refer but I am not ashamed of my public school record here or elsewhere. Since the or the superintendent members of the board of education have never publicly denied this I feel that I must defend my own reputation by publishing these charges against me as presented by the superintendent and the board of education in the hearing of June 20, 1966. Naturally I present my answers to these charges. was given specific instructions to release the certified librarian from her office and bookkeeping tasks so she could function professionally. He failed to do so for at least one year. (1964-196- 5) L Mr. Hawker Answer: I agree that this is the proper thing to do, but when you release someone from a necessary task you must find someone else to do this job. At that time we had one office clerk who was hired for seven hours a day, five days per week. This clerk was already putting in an average of eight hours a day in order to keep up the office work required of her. I asked for additional help for the office but none was given at this time. The only other way to have released the librarian was to have required the certified counselors to assume some of the office work and have senior girls assigned to assume the rest of these tasks. This kind of an arrangement is not educationally sound either. Before the middle of the school year the regular clerk had decided it best for her to quit and take other employment because she knew this extra bookkeeping was going to be changed over to her department and because of the low rate of pay. After her resignation it was necessary to train a new clerk in the numerous tasks in the high school office. It also made it almost impossible to require this new clerk to assume the additional responsibility of the finances. Thus this required transfer of responsibilities was not accomplished during the 1964-1965 school year. A half-tim- e additional clerk was authorized at the beginning of the 1965-19school year. This halftime clerk did assume the 66 bookkeeping previously librarian. responsibilities held by the (Item number 7 is related to this subject) was instructed to en- large the lunch room. The item was in the budget. Later he refused to allow the maintenance men to do so. (1963) Answer: I can fiqd no proof that I was instructed to do this. If the item was in the budget I would like to know who put it in there? I did not request it nor ' did I 2, He have any knowledge of its being there. This is just another example of decisions being made by the central office without any consultation with the principal and faculty who must live with these decisions. Crews came to cut a doorway through the lunch room into the agriculture room so that the agriculture room could be used as part of the lunch room. I did not refuse to allow the summer maintenance crews to do this work. Naturally I was surprised because I had no previous knowledge of this matter. I requested that the crews wait and this they did. Because of the arrangement of the agriculture room this change would have hindered materially the functioning of the agriculture program. Also this change in the doorway would have eliminated space in the lunch room and would not have helped the lunch room situation because the agriculture room was at this time being used as an over flow for the school lunch program. In other words this change would have created more problems than it would have eliminated. A bit of humor there is a standing feeling among the teachers of Nebo School District that the superintendent is more concerned with the school lunch program than with the academic program of our schools. . 3. He was instructed to hold school during the teacher walkout. He dismissed the students and failed to cooperate in recruiting substitute teachers to maintain school. (May 1964) Answer: This whole affair stems from poor communications and lack after of specific instructions I did not attend the early morning meeting called by the teachers association the morning of the first day of the walkout. When the teachers did not arrive for school on that day I did make a number of telephone calls to the district office and the Spanish Fork High School, where the meeting had been held, to ask the superintendent for instruction. I was not successful in making contact with him. During these phone call attempts I was told by two different teachers, who attended the above had mentioned meeting, that schools were being dismissed in Nebo District. As I look back at this situation now, these teachers may not have realized that the principals present at this meeting were instructed by the superintendent to hold school irregardless of the vote by the teachers not to go back to the classroom. Sometime after nine oclock I did dismiss the students from school because I thought this was the procedure being followed all over the district. This was based on all of the information I could obtain at the time. There were no teachers at Payson High School at the time. About ten thirty A.M. the superintendent called and said he had heard that I had dismissed the students. I told him I had and why. He ask if I could get a portable public address system and get the students back in school. I said I would try. (Even at this time he did not give me any instructions as to what to do with the students for two days, just get them back into school.) I was able, through a friend, to get a public address car to go throughout the towns of this attendance area, asking students to return to school. Many were called by telephone. By noon a good share of the students were back in school Having no teachers to help me I organized the students in large groups under the direction of student leaders and we had group activities the balance of the day. The following morning just before eight oclock an elementary principal called me and said the superintendent had asked him to call me (and I think other principals in Pay-soand ask me to get substitute teachers to carry out our regular classes. I immediately called a PTA officer and ask for her help in this matter. Soon the superintendent called and asked if I had enough substitutes for the day. I told him I did not and that I had planned to carry out group activities with the student leaders help again. The superintendent was very displeased with me and felt that I had gone contrary-t- o his wishes, yet he had not mentioned getting substitutes the day before to me. He did send some members of his staff to help substitute during this second day. n) . numerous occasions there was lack of communication with parents having children with problems. The supervisor had to investigate six cases and has had no such problem with other areas. Answer: As a principal I have spent many hours consulting with parents about problems of their children. In all but one of the specific cases brought up at the hearing I had direct communication with the parents themselves. In this case the parent chose to go directly to the superintendent, instead of coming to me to work out a solution. In most of these cases I had conferences with the parents several times, some extending over a period of many weeks. The investigation of these cases could have been done by the superintendent communicating directly with me over the telephone to learn the details of each case. If the supervisor had to spend his time investigating these cases it was because the superintendent or school board members wanted the cases handled in this manner. The inference here seems to be that the superintendent cannot obtain the truth from me and must therefore send someone to investigate every problem that arises. The supervisor talked these cases over with me after his investigation of them. He did not once criticize the action I had taken, and in some cases personally expressed himself as being pleased with my handling of the problem. The most controversial case brought out at the hearing concerned a student problem over attendance. In 1963-19the high schools were instructed to use an attendance policy which was drawn up (at the request of the superintendent) by the high school principals and the supervisor and then approved by the superintendent and the school board. A copy of the 4. policy was printed in the Pay-sChronicle, September 26, on the walkout" began. On 64 1963. The Payson High School attendance committee, consisting of myself and three competent teachers, followed this policy in deciding all problems of attendance. In this specific case a student had been absent a number of days. By the attendance policy of the district the students grades could have been reduced six steps. The committee showed leniency and reduced them by only two steps. This case was brought up in a school board meeting and the board requested of the superintendent that an investigation be made by the supervisor. The supervisor came and made the investigation, after which I received a letter from the superintendent with the following instructions to me, and I quote a part from this letter. I, therefore, direct Quote that you remove the grades of - student for- the first term of this school year disregarding the eight days of absence and so instruct the teachers to mark him on the basis of the work he actually performed while in attendance at the school. I shall also appreciate it if little publicity is given to this request. We have already had enough adverse comment, not only from the parents but the public in general relative to this attendance policy. I do not desire to stir this any further than has been done. Know that I appreciate your interest in running a good school, and I shall appreciate compliance with this directive at this time." unquote. One pertinent question need be asked: was this boy handled with the attendance policy of the Nebo School District? I can answer: yes, and fairly. That should have been the end of it, but no the board had to send someone to make an investigation. Why should members of the staff spend days investigating problems when there is a district policy covering it, and the policy is being abided by? What type of a superintendent, or school board, will approve a policy and then on specific instances refuse to abide by their own policies. How can they expect the principals and the teachers of the district to abide by district policy, if the superintendent and the board feel that they are exempt from the rules. Furthermore, Fm still wondering why the superintendent and the school board members didnt want their policies and actions publicized. Isnt it rather absurd to infer thar the other schools do not have problems with students and parents? If the supervisor did not investigate cases from other schools was it because they were handled by a more efficient method-dir- ect communication between the superintendent and the prin- cipal? The attorney did say at the hearing it would be of interest to the school board to learn how many parents Mr. Hawker did get along with. 5. His philosophy of expelling the students and cutting or reducing their grades. Answer: Here the proper word would be suspend and not expell. Expelling is' permanent action which can be taken by the board of education in excluding students from school. Suspension is the excluding of students from school for short periods of time. This is an action authorized to principals. My philosophy includes the using of this technique in some cases in the handling of student problems. It certainly is not the only technique used by me. It has not been used excessively by me. I dont suppose there is a secondary principal in Utah who hasnt or doesnt suspend a student from school on occasions. An example of this is when a students actions are such that it is imperative that the student not be allowed to attend school until his parents can meet with the principal or principal and teacher and correct the situation. My philosophy of grading is not as stated above. I believe a student is graded and earns credit for certain work accomplished or a level of attainment reached. I believe that attendance cannot be ignored in grading. There is no way of completely making up what a student has missed when he is absent. This varies with the type of class under consideration. I believe we cannot test everything given or required in any class. What can be tested is merely a sampling, therefore, the passing of a test does not necessarily mean that a student has accomplished, achieved, or learned all that is of him. As I have met with secondary on the district, region and state level, I have required principals come to realize that this philosophy is accepted quite generally by members of this group. As a principal I do not cut or reduce grades of students. It is the teachers who evaluate the students progress and achievement and grades him accordingly. 6. He hired an architect without consulting the board or the superintendent. Later he asked the board to pay the bill. (1962-6Answer: This accusation is entirely false! I did hire an architect but only after receiving a letter from superintendent authorizing me to do so. I quote parts from this letter dated December 18, 1962. I presented to the Quote Board of Education last evening your request concerning authorization to make a survey of the facilities on the Park in certain cases. dents did some work around the school. I might point out that the working of students during school hours outside of the classroom has been done in the other high schools of the school district. This was especially true at Spanish Fork High School when the new high school was first occupied. 9. Adult education program was not functioning in the high school in the year 1965-19and prior. 3) View Elementary School grounds relative to a grandstand or community development project. The Board commends you highly for your efforts in this direction and authorizes you to proceed with a survey if funds are available from within your g r o u p that is, community, church, school, clubs and other interested organizations. As you perhaps know, the firm of name Architects of Provo has done much of the work for the Board in projects of this kind, and the Board suggested that you consider them in this ProUnquote gram." A copy of the Capital Outlay Budget for Payson High School for the 1963-19year shows that Park View School fencing and bleachers were requested of the school board and that this request was not the bill of an architect. This evidence is also available. This budget request was refused by the board of education. See letter at bottom of page 7. He hired a clerk beyond the contract period without first clearing it. Answer: This charge actuaHy has nothing to do with my dismissal as a principal since it didnt occur until after I was notified 66 Answer: Perhaps I dont understand what the word functioning means but there was held a Young Farmers Class in the area of Farm Mechanics this past school year at Payson High School. Similar classes have been held four or five of the last six years. In this same period of time sewing classes for adults were held two different years. Each fall a survey is made to determine those adults who are interested in attending adult classes. We have encouraged all to attend. We have not failed to teach a class where enough registrants, in the same area, have desired a class. There were four adults from this area who completed their high school requirements and graduated from the Nebo High School during the past school Nebo High year 1965-196- 6. School is a district wide school organized specifically to help adults who have not previously received a high school diploma. 10. The attendance report lacked dismissaL A one half day clerk was added to the Payson High School staff 6. for the year This clerk was hired for 184 days and was given the assignment to do the purchasing, pay all the bills, and keep a financial record of the income and expenditures of the school. She also made monthly financial reports to the district office summarizing these financial transactions. Sometime in June or July each year these financial records are taken to the school district office for audit. Since her contract time ended in May the financial records were not completed and could not be completed at that time. Outstanding bills had to be gathered and paid. The final report for the year could not be made until at least the middle of June, since high school business goes on the year around some purchases are made during the summer months. This same clerk was hired to finish this work which obviously had to be done. She was paid from high school funds and not district funds for this extra time. It is interesting to note here that previously this job had been handled by our lihraHan for many years. She worked beyond her contracted year on her own time during the summer months and was not paid for this extra work. I suppose she was thanked only by me for doing this work for the school district. 1965-196- Attendance policy was sent to parents. Working students as custodians during school hours. Answer: After the 1963-19school policy for the high schools of, this district. Each teacher was to have his own policy. This type of policy did not prove to be very helpful to a high school principal who was charged with maintaining high student attendance to prevent the loss of financial remuneration to the school district. Teachers were quite unhappy with the situation and felt that the school board should lend their support of a better policy. In the fall of 1965 the teacliers at Payson High School worked out a plan whereby each teachers policy was to be the same. This policy was drawn up and copies sent home to the parents. It was in effect a very short time until the superintendent and school board objected to it. It was then discontinued. This policy did include the working of students at school 8. 64 columns some filled. This was called to his attention and the idea 64 on May 27, 1966, of my dismissal. At the hearing the superintendent said he knew nothing about this subject, so I dont know who brought this in as one of the reasons for my A few stu- If you want these columns filled in, you will have to do it." conveyed, Answer: The above mentioned columns were average daily membership, average daily attendance and the percent of attendance. These were by grades and total for the school. These figures are all obtained by long division. One day I suggested to Mr. Wendel in the district office that I should used their calculators to get these figures rather than doing the dividing by hand. He said to me at that time that these figures were not too important and suggested I leave them blank. This is what I later did. About the only use for these figures is a comparison of one grade with another or one school with another. These figures can not be used in state reports from the district because these figures have to be determined on a district wide basis. The summation or average of these figures district wide would not even be correct for a state report. One report was sent back to me to be completed by Mr. Whitehead. I then called Mr. Whitehead who evidently was working with these reports. He then said to me in effect, 'Ok, send it back to me." This I did. I did not say. to him or Mr. Wendel 'If you want these columns filled in, you will have to do it." ing schedule nsidering the of classes co- number wanted to register. principal was asked to implement a corrective reading program. Every secondary school except Payson will have such a program in 1966-196- 7. Answer: If Payson HighSchool does not have a corrective reading program the coming year it will not be because of lack of effort or of failure of Mr. Hawker. I am strongly for this program. The scheduling of such a program can still be done at this late date if the district wiU but furnish the teacher qualified or approved by them to conduct such a program. It is interesting to note that about three and one half years ago I purchased with high school funds a speed reader and a good number of reading film strips of the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. These have been in use at Payson High School the past three years by certain teachers in the school who tried to improve the eye movements, the eye span and the rate of reading for these students. Students were grouped so that this type of program 1 hours after this breakin and robbery. It has been used continually since that time. A few months later in 1962 the school and safe were broken into again and some change needed for the next days business was taken. Still the bank records show that there was deposited in the night depository school monies the same night as this second robbery occured. teaching certificate and have had the responsibility of maintaining a good reading program in another school dis- trict. never filed a report for Title I eligibility for 13. He 1965-196- 6. Answer: The schools of Nebo 17. To this date he has failed to submit an evaluation of teachers for 1965-196- 6. District were encouraged to file for Title I monies if they were eligible and if they had a worthy idea for experimentation they wanted to follow through on. From the information furnished me by outside agencies and through the school district central office it was clear that Payson High School was not eligible for Title I federal monies. To be eligible for Title I monies five and one half per cent (5 and of the students of a school had to be in a certain classification. At Pay-so- n High School approximately two per cent (2) of the students fitted this category of classification. Therefore, Payson High School was not eligible for the Title I monies. Answer: This is a false accusation as to the subject at hand. This has nothing to do with my dismissal as principal of Payson High School because it was not due when I was told of my dismissal on May 27, 1966. At had not been set. This report was submitted to the central office by me a few days after this hearing. 12) 14. He At the end of the discussion of each accusation the lawyer representing the Utah Education Association asked two pertinent questions about the subject at hand. First, what was the date that this incident or d, specific item took place? was Mr. Hawker ever notified orally or in writing that he was not doing satisfactory work or that this would failed to submit BYU Cooperating Teachers Report for the 1966-19- District Office, to 67 the hearing it was admitted by the board that this report was not due until some time in in fact a definite date June 20, 1966. Answer: This is entirely false. I did submit this report. It did go through the district office. It was received on or before May 20, 1966. It was picked up by the Director of Student Teaching from the BYU when he picked up the others from the schools of Nebo School District at the district office. This report is in the proper office and file at the BYU and this information can be verified. Payson 1966-19- which to the mutually rules and policies, adapted regulations for dismissal of this school district and the local teachers association. I do object to this dismissal on the grounds which were stated at my hearing without having been given prior notice to make definate changes. W Harold Hawker 370 South 400 West Payson, Utah FOR THE BEST 13 SHOE REPAIR PENGS HOE ERVI0E Parson. Utah Sooth Third East 180 Boris jfreautii tfhoppee 593 SOUTH 3rd EAST 67 will now be open six days a week " STARTING JULY 25th , to accomodate working women 67 were late this past year. This school was not the only one to submit a late budget. FOR EARLY OR LATE APPOINTMENTS Ask for Operators CALL NOW Answer: This accusation is false. I was not instructed to use the bank night depository until after the first school robbery. In 1962 the safe at Payson High School was broken into and monies taken. After this occurred, I was instructed to use the night depository. Records of the local bank and my office will verify that the night depository was in use in less than twenty-fo- ur JOANN PALMER JOYCE PETERSON 16. He was instructed to use the night depository at the bank. He didnt and was robbed twice prior to 1963. or DORIS MONDAYS thru FRIDAYS NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1st We Offer You This PERMANENT SPECIAL $10.00 WAVES $gOO $12.50 WAVES $QOO PHONE 465-36- 88 I BOARD RU&SEU. N. STANSFIELD, 50 SOUTH dismissed 0XXKX0XX000000000 High School requests for which I was was contrary place his status as principal in jeopardy? On number one, the lawyer brought out many times the fact that as accusations for dismissal they were out dated. They should have been brought to the attention of Mr. Hawker at the time they occured and he in turn be given a chance 15. He delayed the preparation of the district budget by not The budget to correct his procedures to comply with the requests of the superintendent. On number two, the answer was always no. I was never notified at any time by the school board, the superintendent, or the supervisor that my status as a principal of Payson High School was in jeopardy. In fact my actions were often praised both by the school board and the superintendent. An example of this, in writing, is shown by the quoted letter in the answer to charge number six. I do not object to being a classroom teacher. This is a noble calling. The most important activities of a school district go on in the classroom and under the direction of the classroom teacher. I do object to the manner in Sec-con- due May submitting his school budthe 1966-19get on time budget. Answer: 1166 of DUCATION superintendent or sc Moots MAIN, SPANISH FORK, UTAH C J WENDEL, Softool Xfm'oo Dltriot assistant superintendent and rusiness manager TELEPHONE 7 9 5 86 December 18, 1962 Principal Harold Hawker Payson Senior High School Payson, Utah of the number of class rooms available and the kinds of classes for which the students teachers, 12. Each secondary THURSDAY, JULY 21, could successfully be conducted. These teachers were not experts at teaching reading but I did give them some help in this matter. I have held an 11. He failed to schedule the type room so the second year shorthand transcription session could have access to it in 1964-196- 5. Answer: This may be true. I have never made a perfect schedule yet. I n fact I have never seen a perfect schedule made by any high school principal I have made many high school schedules, however, I have never felt that anyone was as good as I would have liked it. I have tried to make the best possible work- The Payson Chronicle, Payson, Utah Dear Harold: presented to the Board of Education last evening your request concerning authorization to make a survey of the facilities on the Park View Elementary School grounds relative to a grandstand or community development project. I appreciative of the efforts of the community of a Payson to provide project of this nature and is willing to go along with the program in supplying the ground and moral support for the project. I explained to the Board that some funds were available from the Payson Senior High School but that I didnt know exactly how much or whether the project would come from a senior The Board was class venture, athletic receipts, etc. you highly for your efforts in this direction and authorizes you to proceed with a survey if funds are available from within your group that Is, community, church, school, clubs and other interested organizations. As you perhaps know, the firm of Ashworth Architects of Provo has done much of the work for the Board in projects of this kind, and the Board suggested that you consider them in this program. The Board commends ncerely yours , Rusdell N. Stansfield Superintendent em |