Miss-Delectable
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News - StatesmanJournal.com
Hundreds of parents are expected to attend a meeting tonight at the Oregon School for the Deaf to seek answers about the dismissal of a longtime director.
Two weeks ago, state education official Ed Dennis hosted a similar meeting attended by about 30 people. Few, however, left satisfied.
Dennis has maintained that his decision was based on a desire to improve management and leadership at the school in northeast Salem. Citing employment privacy reasons, he declined to discuss specifics. Jane Mulholland served as director since 1999 and was fired Dec. 28.
Following a public records request by the Statesman Journal, state education officials said they planned to release documents relating to OSD to the Statesman Journal on Tuesday.
The Oregon School for the Deaf serves about 130 students who are enrolled at no cost to their families.
The Oregon Department of Education serves as the supervising agency over both of the state's special schools, the Oregon School for the Deaf and the Oregon School for the Blind.
Tensions have escalated to the point that a group of parents, students and community members are calling for the termination of state education officials. The Oregon Deaf Coalition wants to reinstate Mulholland and remove Dennis and human resources director Mark Hunt, the organization announced Friday.
The coalition also calls for the creation of an independent board for both schools, an idea Dennis said he does not oppose.
But parents and members of the deaf community have strongly protested Mulholland's dismissal. They said Mulholland was an administrator they trusted and respected, and they questioned whether the state education department can find a legitimate replacement.
Parent Misty Hunter attended the last public meeting and plans to attend tonight's. Hunter said she moved to Oregon from Alaska so her now 8-year-old daughter Kasala could attend the school. She said she was drawn to the school's attention to deaf culture and parent outreach, and thought strongly about Mulholland's leadership.
Meanwhile, appointed interim director Jay Gense said day-to-day operations at the school remain unchanged. Gense also helps supervise the Oregon School for the Blind. Gense also will be present during tonight's meeting.
Gense said he's spent the first few weeks in his interim position meeting with staff and outlining his goals in his role.
"I told (staff) that I'd do anything to ease the angst," he said. "I want to ensure this administrative transition is transparent to students."
Gense will lead the effort to search for a new director and hopes to include parents, students and the deaf community in the process.
Dennis said despite the opposition he's faced, he has no qualms about his decision to terminate Mulholland.
"I hope that we can focus on the students' needs. I'm asking people to give the interim director an opportunity and hope that we can work together to hire a permanent director."
Hundreds of parents are expected to attend a meeting tonight at the Oregon School for the Deaf to seek answers about the dismissal of a longtime director.
Two weeks ago, state education official Ed Dennis hosted a similar meeting attended by about 30 people. Few, however, left satisfied.
Dennis has maintained that his decision was based on a desire to improve management and leadership at the school in northeast Salem. Citing employment privacy reasons, he declined to discuss specifics. Jane Mulholland served as director since 1999 and was fired Dec. 28.
Following a public records request by the Statesman Journal, state education officials said they planned to release documents relating to OSD to the Statesman Journal on Tuesday.
The Oregon School for the Deaf serves about 130 students who are enrolled at no cost to their families.
The Oregon Department of Education serves as the supervising agency over both of the state's special schools, the Oregon School for the Deaf and the Oregon School for the Blind.
Tensions have escalated to the point that a group of parents, students and community members are calling for the termination of state education officials. The Oregon Deaf Coalition wants to reinstate Mulholland and remove Dennis and human resources director Mark Hunt, the organization announced Friday.
The coalition also calls for the creation of an independent board for both schools, an idea Dennis said he does not oppose.
But parents and members of the deaf community have strongly protested Mulholland's dismissal. They said Mulholland was an administrator they trusted and respected, and they questioned whether the state education department can find a legitimate replacement.
Parent Misty Hunter attended the last public meeting and plans to attend tonight's. Hunter said she moved to Oregon from Alaska so her now 8-year-old daughter Kasala could attend the school. She said she was drawn to the school's attention to deaf culture and parent outreach, and thought strongly about Mulholland's leadership.
Meanwhile, appointed interim director Jay Gense said day-to-day operations at the school remain unchanged. Gense also helps supervise the Oregon School for the Blind. Gense also will be present during tonight's meeting.
Gense said he's spent the first few weeks in his interim position meeting with staff and outlining his goals in his role.
"I told (staff) that I'd do anything to ease the angst," he said. "I want to ensure this administrative transition is transparent to students."
Gense will lead the effort to search for a new director and hopes to include parents, students and the deaf community in the process.
Dennis said despite the opposition he's faced, he has no qualms about his decision to terminate Mulholland.
"I hope that we can focus on the students' needs. I'm asking people to give the interim director an opportunity and hope that we can work together to hire a permanent director."