The Brentwod Union School District Board Friday placed Superintendent Merrill Grant on administrative leave effective immediately, and disciplined three other district employees. While I can applaud the actions last night, the lack of transparency here is troublesome as the Board failed to explain their reasoning for the decision.
The move to place Superintendent Grant on administrative leave came after the Board called a Special Meeting Friday in which the closed session lasted nearly four hours–kudos to Paula King and Ruth Roberts of their respective papers for waiting it out. The only two items on the agenda were as follows:
Closed Session
- 3.0: Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Superintendent
- 3.1: Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
The board apparently made a very brief statement and it was over. The sad part is after such a long closed session, they failed to provide any details. After a four-hour meeting, the public is not getting the full story and likely never will.
“This board has decided to take appropriate disciplinary action against three employees,” board President Carlos Sanabria told the audience after emerging from a closed session that ran close to four hours. “This board is placing the superintendent on administrative leave, effective immediately.”
My first question is why is this action considered “appropriate” and what are you comparing it to? My second question is why does the board feel it’s appropriate? This is where the lack of transparency is hurting not only the District, but Brentwood as a whole.
I believe this is a slap on the wrist and three pink slips should have been handed out. However, after a four hour meeting, the Board apparently felt differently. They ensured every “I” was dotted and every “t” was crossed to justify their decision while there are details revolving around this case that the public will never know which also weighs into their decision.
This is why transparency is essential in this situation and saying very little continues to damage the District and will continue to haunt it. From the Board perspective, saying very little keeps them from getting sued.
Had the board emerged out of closed session and fully explained their reasoning for administrative leave and disciplinary actions against three, with the exception of a few, the public more than likely would accept it and move forward within a few weeks.
Instead, saying nothing of substance makes it harder for people to move forward. Many questions will continue to linger on.
For example:
- How long is Superintendent Merrill Grant on leave for? Is he on paid leave?
- Is the investigation still on going?
- Who are the three employees that were disciplined?
- What were the disciplinary actions?
- What justifications were used in making these decisions?
And finally, guess what happens when Superintendent Grant comes back to work (if he does), the can of worms is then re-opened. As I’ve stated before, this is one of the few special circumstances where the public and the board need full disclosure so the District, its parents, and Brentwood can heal.
Last night is a good first start, but not enough and the Board likely knows it. This is still not over and I can assure you from some parents I’ve spoken to, this is not going to go away.
Background Info:
Back in January, the Brentwood Unified School District had agreed to pay a family $950,000 whose 5-year old special needs child was thrown to the floor and kicked/nudged by a teacher nearly 2-years ago by Loma Vista Elementary School Teacher Dina Holder. She was eventually charged with child abuse, but rather than be fired or removed from the classroom, she was simply transferred to another school and classroom with no parents receiving warnings.
Loma Vista principal Laurie James and BUSD Assistant Superintendent Margaret Cruse have been accused of failing to properly notify authorities of the incident that resulted in Holder pleading no contest to misdemeanor child abuse in 2011.
As I reported yesterday, Brentwood Union School District Teacher Dina Holder Teaching Credentials and all Certificates have been revoked effective yesterday. It should be noted, as of yesterday afternoon, she is still employed by the school district—quite frankly, this is unbelievable and unacceptable even if she is now holding a desk job.
Timeline:
May 25, 2010
Loma Vista Elementary, Special Education Classroom. Teacher Holder removed child from seat by arm, kicked him twice on floor, in front of two adult aids. Aids removed her from classroom. Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/family-to-receive-950000-in-teacher-abuse-settlement-.html
May 26, 2010
James was notified of incident. Holder was placed on paid administrative leave for four days
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22389672/brentwood-superintendent-says-legal-limitations-kept-abusive-teacher
May 27, 2012
James has staff launch investigation, she was off school grounds.
Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22411954/daniel-borenstein-brentwood-abuse-case-reveals-complete-failure
May 28, 2010
James notifies CPS verbally two days after being notified by aids about incident, never submits written report, did not call Brentwood PD or parents. Discrepancy over what the reporting agency told her.
June 1, 2010
James called parents of victim and notified them an incident occurred. Parents notify Brentwood PD, when it should have been the School District.
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_22381430/brentwood-teachers-abuse-leads-950-000-settlement-attorneys
July 2010
Holder starts working at Krey Elementary.
October 6, 2011
Holder pleads “no contest” to misdemeanor child abuse charges. Remains in classroom at Krey.
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/family-to-receive-950000-in-teacher-abuse-settlement-.html
January 9, 2013,
The BUSD Board voted in closed session Jan. 9 to make the settlement agreement.
January 15, 2013
Settlement of $950k announced in Contra Costa Times
January 16, 2013
Grant acknowledges that the principal did not notify police after being notified by aids of the incident. Grant states: ”Teacher dismissals are very complex, very cumbersome and it takes a lot of time,”
According to the ABCNews Bakersfield, additional problems were uncovered during the legal case against Holder. They included:
- Aides testified that Holder used profanity in the classroom and spent most of the time in class playing solitaire.
- Previously, a parent told the principal that she saw Holder shaking a three-year-old child so violently that his head was shaking.
- A special needs child claimed to have been slapped by an adult at the school. The adult was later identified as Holder.
- An aide observed Holder restraining a child by taping his legs to a chair with masking tape.
- A child with down syndrome who was supposed to be in Holder’s classroom was found wandering around campus.
- It was later discovered that, according to the State of California, Holder did not have the proper credentialing to teach children with autism, of whom there were many in her class.
January 24, 2013
School Board spoke through their lawyer stating how the course of action was justified by moving her to another school while changing her grade level. It should be noted, the School Board didn’t plan for a large audience and held their meeting in too small of a room.
January 29, 2013
School district apologizes for handling of this case. Acknowledges: there was a “huge gap” in the district’s mandated reporting.
Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22477400/school-district-officials-apologize-handling-teacher-abuse-case
January 30, 2013
Superintendent Merrill Grant issues a formal “open letter” to Brentwood parents.
Source: https://www.brentwood.k12.ca.us/downloadabledocs/Public_Statement-Merrill_Grant.pdf
As we go forward, I encourage folks to stick to the facts and keep their eye on the end game which is ensuring this never happens again. Hold conversations, submit suggestions to the district, request explanations instead putting up with lip service. If responses from Superintendent Grant and the Board do not pass the “smell test”, continue to seek answers.
Keep up the pressure until real action occurs and the Board finally does take the appropriate action Brentwood parents are seeking.
February 22, 2013
Superintendent Merrill Grant on administrative leave effective immediately, and disciplined three other district employees after a marathon 4-hour closed session meeting
Source: Contra Costa Times
5 comments
a recall is needed. this board is just terrible. everything is done with back room deals since the incident was made public. brentwood deserves much better from our school board.
No firings? I guess this board wants to lose their next election
Brentwood parents should not let this stand, now is the time to organize a recall on the trustees. Dina Holder should be fired, no questions asked. This was done on Friday because no one was paying attention over the weekend. Burke, I believe your questions are very valid and should be asked and more importantly, answered.
I’m sorry but I just feel like this is a joke! I appreciate that they placed Merrill Grant on immediate administrative leave, but then they follow that up with their topical vagueness and THEIR word that disciplinary actions are being taken on three more persons involved. Does their word hold much merit at this point? Sorry to say but not with me yet. They need to do better and be forthcoming with EVERY step they take right now!
Super thank you for putting this together. This should be on every parents “must read” list in the District!!!
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