A coalition of parents, employees, community groups and residents implored Tacoma School Board members Thursday night to show more leadership.
The group, led by Tom Hilyard of the Black Collective, presented a six-point letter to the board and Superintendent Charlie Milligan.
It asked for respectful relationships between the school district and the community; a shared vision and plan for the future; efforts to help minority students; improved relations with employees; and greater accountability.
“We ask that the board and Dr. Milligan seriously consider these shared expectations, which we believe are necessary to restore confidence in Tacoma Public Schools,” Hilyard said, reading from the document.
Its sponsors included members of the Sound Alliance, a broad-based organizing group; several school district labor unions, including the 2,100-member Tacoma Education Association; the Black Collective; Jobs With Justice; parents; members of several neighborhood councils; former members of the citizens levy campaign; and retired teachers.
Hilyard delivered the letter at the end of a school year that began with enthusiasm for a new superintendent and is concluding with what appear to be deep divisions over where the 29,600-student district is headed.
Much of the attention has focused on the style of Milligan and his administration. Some say he’s presided over a climate of fear and disrespect for community members and school employees. Others applaud his willingness to change the course of schools that have troubling test scores and his insistence on doing the right thing for kids.
Both views were aired Thursday evening.
“We appreciate your advocacy,” Linda Thompson Black, director of state and field support for Communities in Schools, told Milligan.
She thanked him for his steady support of efforts to cut dropout rates and for helping the organization land Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander as a spokesman for the organization.
Constance Trufant, mother of Sea-hawks cornerback and Wilson High School grad Marcus Trufant, said she appreciated Milligan taking the time to attend a fundraising auction to benefit kids.
When Hilyard, a longtime community leader who is chairman of the Black Collective’s education committee, made his remarks, about 60 people stood with him in support.
He told the board copies of the letter/petition would soon follow with “hundreds” of signatures.
“The community at large is waiting for signs of your leadership and support,” Hilyard said.
Neither he nor Tacoma Education Association President Gayle Nakayama could say Thursday night how many signatures might be turned in.
Milligan didn’t comment on the communique during the board meeting. But he said in an interview earlier in the day that he pours everything he has every day into making decisions “in the best interest of kids.”
School Board President Connie Rickman said following the meeting she hadn’t had a chance to read the letter. But she said she’s concerned “there are some people with their own agendas in each group” that sponsored it.
Problems have existed in the district “for a long, long time,” she added. “They want him (Milligan) to have all the answers. Why are they just now asking a person who has joined the team?”
But she agreed there are problems with Tacoma’s schools.
“We have to look at the problems and deal with them,” she said.
Karin Goodro, a retired Larchmont Elementary School teacher, sees trouble, too.
“The depth of concern in our community is great,” she told board members. “We need to so something about it.”
Asking for leadership
A coalition of citizen groups presented the Tacoma School Board and Superintendent Charlie Milligan with a letter and petition Thursday night asking for “leadership.” Among its points:
• Opinions should be respected and relationships nurtured. Some people say they’ve been the targets of disrespectful remarks by Milligan and district administrators. Milligan “must serve as a model for appropriate conduct at all times.”
• School officials should work with the community to develop specific short-term and long-term plans for student improvement.
• The district must address the growing achievement gap between black students and other students. “We want to work together with you to create a culture of high expectations for our minority students.”
• The board and superintendent should “listen actively to their employees and to the public when issues of concern are brought to their attention.” Milligan should be more visible and involved in the community.
Reviewing the superintendent
What: Tacoma School Board members plan to complete their review of Superintendent Charlie Milligan’s job performance and fill out a written evaluation form. They began the review process in March.
When: The board’s executive session is set for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, though it may not go that long.
Where: Seventh-floor conference room at district headquarters, 601 S. Eighth St.
Open to the public? No. The board may conduct its personnel review in closed session. However, state open meetings laws say any votes must be taken during public sessions.
Kris Sherman: 253-597-8659
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