Editor: Although it comes as no surprise, I find it reprehensible and inexcusable that the trustees who promised transparency and financial responsibility are the same five that fired Superintendent Cheryle Beamont and then tried to hide that fact. Is this is their idea of transparency and financial responsibility?

In my letter to The Times (Jan. 5), I asked if this would be one of the directions of this new board. I also questioned if delaying the deficit repayment plan would be brought forward.

Instead of paying down the deficit quickly and efficiently so that our district may move forward as we have been, will these five decide to slow down the process so that our fully enrolled schools can pay it off for a longer period of time? Firing our superintendent and having to pay a severance package will certainly slow the process.

Board chair Wendy Johnson went so far as to imply it had been a decision made by Cheryle Beaumont herself. This is not true.

I wonder if these five had intended that the truth behind this decision would ever be revealed. I find it frightening that trustees, who have less than eight years experience among them, are qualified to make such a decision so quickly after the election.

Johnson and Rob McFarlane each have a total of three years experience, Cecelia Reekie has a year and a half and Candy Ashdown and Megan Dykeman have no experience whatsoever. Their first job of the term is to fire our superintendent?

This is the superintendent who has delivered new schools, increased student achievement, brought in new programs, increased graduation rates and has an excellent working relationship with Victoria. What was the motive behind this decision? Union appeasement? Dislike of strong leadership and high achievement records? Personal vendettas?

And where is the financial prudence in this decision? If they try saying this decision was made because of the deficit, that ship sailed when Beaumont鈥檚 contract was renewed. Now instead of progressively working together for a year and a half when her contract would have been up, our district owes severence instead. Will this transparent board be sharing the cost of this severance with us or will we have to wait for budget disclosure before that information is released?

Kari Medos,

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