Transcript of my comments at May 19, 2021 censure meeting

I’m including this now, even though it was more than two years ago, because I will refer to this meeting again, and also because the issue I mention (district financial liability for reckless or irresponsible board member behaviors) remains current.

Transcript of Board Member Craig Wilson’s comments at May 19, 2021 special meeting on resolution 55-2021 to censure Trustee Ana Petero

Link to Youtube meeting spot, about 55 minutes and 36 seconds into the meeting:

Thank you. I perceive this action as a formal disavowal of reckless and irresponsible actions by Trustee Petero. The resolution is intended to shield the board and the district from legal and financial liability for those actions. The actions described in the document don’t need elaboration. The document speaks for itself.

I also reached out in support of board member Petero. I’d known her previously. We worked together on the music advocacy committee Music for our children. I Enjoyed that. When it looked like I thought she was getting off on the wrong foot, I wrote her a personal letter offering my perspective. She mentioned it last week, that it may not have been helpful. I got her permission to get a copy and make it public. I put it on my personal campaign website this morning. You can look at it yourself and evaluate whether my intent was to be helpful or not.

I also invited her to a site visit, one of the schools that I am liaison with because she was interested. I want her to succeed, and I believe she can succeed. I hope she will succeed. It’s not an automatic or easy thing for a board member to figure out what the job is. I had a hard time figuring out what my role is. Am I just a rubber stamp? Because from a certain angle it looks like your job is just to approve things and not really ask questions or not really have an influence anywhere. It’s hard.

And so I hope she makes the transition from new trustee to established trustee and I commit to doing whatever I can to give assistance. I’ve lost some confidence, but I can rebuild it.

We had a clear warning from our state association consultant in our self evaluation last week. Renegade actions by zealous board members can have serious financial consequences for districts. The example we heard about involved over $4 million in damages paid out and it didn’t sound like that was a rare thing.

It’s difficult to balance our obligations as elected officials with the need for oversight and accountability to the community. But it’s a fine line that we must learn to walk, to do it properly. If we enter schools and speak with school employees as if we’re the boss, we’re doing it wrong. We’ve chosen the superintendent to be the boss and we’ve agreed not to undermine that. Work environments become toxic when it’s not clear who the real boss is. That’s why we have placed limits on ourselves and empowered the superintendent to monitor us in keeping within those limits.

Perhaps this censure, if it passes, will have no ultimate effect. If Trustee Patero from here forward abides by the proper limits of the office she has been elected to, then there will be no consequences. Aside from a bit of shame, perhaps for having behaved enthusiastically but carelessly.

But if the behaviors don’t change and legal claims arise, then I would expect this resolution to matter greatly. It would constitute a defense against our responsibility. If employees, for instance, are subjected to unlawful harassment or intimidation, this resolution would be a major part of our defense. My hope is that it will have no effect because the behaviors will change.

In speaking for the motion, I would also like to respond to those in the community who have criticized the formal tone of our discussions, who say that our careful language looks artificial and that we’re avoiding addressing this head on. Perhaps they are hoping for the drama of a personal battle. The reason we choose to address behaviors rather than personalities is to keep ourselves focused on our mission. Our mission is to shape an environment where student needs come first and not to descend into personal conflicts.

We choose to focus on problem solving because our district is faced with many legitimate challenges and needs and should not be distracted by matters like this. That’s why I support the motion. Thank you.