Community rallies to support Robert Boes

TIFFIN – During the public comment portion of the Tiffin City School District Board of Education meeting Monday, community members rallied to express their support of Robert Boes who currently serves the district as the assistant superintendent. Melanie Sutter of Tiffin was first to speak. "I honestly don't even know where to begin, but I'm here for two reasons," Sutter said. "One is in support of Mr. Bob Boes and the other as far as our teachers. As of right now, neither one are getting the support that I feel is deserved by the board and the superintendent. Where I'm going with that is in regards first to of all Mr. Boes and the elimination of the (assistant) superintendent position. "I've been part of this district my entire life," she continued. "My dad Dick Gower taught his entire 34 years for this district. When I got hired in 2016, he told me if there is one person in this district if you ever need anything, any questions answered, any problems, any issues, one person you can trust and who will always be honest with you, was Bob Boes." Sutter further said the district has always (had an) assistant superintendent and that the position is needed. "All I keep hearing tonight is we have no plan, we have no plan. ... But we're going to cut a million dollars. We'll start with the (assistant) superintendent position." Another concern she discussed with the position of Chief Academic Officer, a position for which the board approved a contract with Gerald Nadeau Monday, and the lack of a job description. Sutter expressed her concern with the board's discussion of cutting expenses through attrition, pointing out that the board has no way of knowing which staff members will leave the district and how many. "You people have been voted in because we trusted that you were going to change," she concluded. "...I'll tell you what, if you don't have people in administrative positions like Mr. Boes and you don't have teachers like we have sitting here tonight, you don't have a district." Next was Brian Hall, a 1990 Tiffin Columbian graduate, who drove two hours to speak at the meeting. "...I'm here for Bob (Boes), too," he said. "...Even as a kid, me and his brother and him would play basketball in their barn. Me and his brother would get in fights. Bob was always the one (saying): 'Hey guys, calm down,' because his integrity was always high even as eight years old, it's always been that way. "I wouldn't come back here for just anyone," Hall continued. "I came back here because it's important and I care. ...What I don't understand is why you (the board) would start (with cuts) at the top. ... You have other newly created positions. You have other places to go. ... The problem is the dishonesty and the lack of trust is now created. "I hope you all begin right now tonight to earn that trust back because you've got some stuff coming up that needs voted on and its now to earn that trust back," he concluded. "I think you're going to earn it back. ... One of the most highest integrity people I know was my coach. Coach (Larry) Kisabeth, I trust you." Leah Alvarado, a Tiffin City School teacher, addressed the board next. "I wanted to address the board and address the significance of red for education," she said. "When we wear red, we are standing together and making our voices heard in a demonstration of our unity. Recently, educators across the country have had to fight for our students, uphold our values and advocate for change. "For me, my red represents the need that students must always be the forefront of all decisions, especially as we are looking at changes for our district," she concluded. "The love for our district runs deep in this community and we must be prudent and thoughtful with a clear direction. Charlotte Lininger, teacher at Noble Elementary continued the discussion: "I want it to be publicly known that Mr. (Robert) Boes has been a constant in this district and has been a source of comfort, leadership, integrity and strength the last several years. No matter the turmoil, no matter the rumors, the empty promises that have surrounded our district in the last 10 years. It was Mr. Boes alongside of a former administrator that made it a point to get out and be visible in the buildings. "I realized that our current financial situation might not be completely the result of our current superintendent," Lininger continued. "That he hasn't had a direct hand in it. However, the fact that we have had to pay out salaries for administration that have been let go, bought land that sets empty and most recently, moved administration around to cover different jobs, not the jobs that they were originally hired for, and in turn, have had to pay others to pick their duties. All of this has led to the financial struggles and lack of confidence and trust in the Tiffin City School community." "It would be detrimental to the staff to remove Mr. Boes from his current position," she concluded. "He is the true leader that many teachers look to for guidance, security, stability and honesty. In addition, Mr. Boes has been the individual that has been asked on several occasions to be the interim superintendent. Under his leadership, he has helped pull this district through some of its darkest days." Tiffin resident and parent Wendy Borer-Bolen also expressed her concerns. "I've had 11 kids go through the school (district)," she said. "Mr. Boes has been one of the biggest staples with helping me with my kids. ...We can't lose him as our (assistant) superintendent nor the teaching staff. This teaching staff for 11 of my kids has been one of the best teaching staff and just to cut them is heartbreaking..." Board addresses comments After returning from executive session, Board President Dustin Williams addressed some of the statements made during public comment. Williams clarified that the position of Chief Academic Officer for Gerald Nadeau is not a new position for Nadeau. "The position of Chief Academic Officer was board approved going into this school year," he said. "We have that job description; we did approve it. He remains at the same class and the same step that he currently is with a three-year renewal contract." Williams also addressed comments he and Superintendent Ben Richards made to the A-T earlier this year about eliminating the assistant superintendent position. "We did take action regarding Mr. Boes," he said. "There was some information that was in the Advertiser-Tribune. Mr. Richards and I both made comments to the Advertiser and unfortunately that was prior to information being sent out to the staff regarding the action that had been taken. We got the timing of that communication wrong. I wanted to apologize to the teachers and staff and Mr. Boes. "We got that wrong and we will do better in the future," he concluded. "I know I've been critical of boards in the past of communication, and I got that one wrong." At the end of the meeting, Board member Larry Kisabeth made a statement regarding Mr. Boes. "As a cost saving move for Tiffin City Schools, Superintendent Ben Richards made the decision to move Bob Boes from his assistant superintendent position to an elementary principal position, an opening that we currently have occupied by an interim principal. By doing this, the district saves the salary and benefits of a different Tiffin City School District's administrative position. "On a personal level, I am disappointed with this option and the decision based on my association and work with Bob Boes over the many years, including in his position as middle school principal when I served as an interim dean of students in his building and in his position as assistant superintendent and interim superintendent over the past approximate 10 years," he continued. "Bob Boes has served this district well in difficult, trying times." "For many of the past few years, starting with the administration of Gary Barber, it was perceived that we were over administrated in the central office," Kisabeth said. "It is not my position or place to determine the truth of that perception. On a professional level, this move makes financial sense, especially with the fact that Bob Boes has served as an elementary principal earlier in his career." "I personally and professionally do not want to lose Bob Boes due to finances," he concluded. "Bob Boes is too important to our district. Bob Boes has served our district in difficult times and he has served it well. He has been a hero, a champion for this district. With this transition, though difficult, Bob Boes, I hope will continue to be a champion for the district." Earlier this month, Richards confirmed the elimination of the assistant superintendent position to the A-T.