CLARK COUNTY — Let me begin by saying I am very frustrated by the one-sided reporting and opinion-stating from the News and Tribune staff in its editorial published over the weekend regarding the search for a new Greater Clark County Schools superintendent.

This is at least the third time in the last six months that a member of the News and Tribune staff has written an article or voiced their opinion without giving me, Vice President Mark Pavey or Secretary Kevin Satterly even the slightest opportunity to answer questions or relay correct information. I have always believed great reporters get both sides of a story in order to give their readers all information needed to make an informed decision. At best, the newspaper’s recent half-truths are irresponsible.

Now let’s delve into your recent “opinion.” Dysfunctional. I agree there are Greater Clark board members who operate in a dysfunctional manner. I agree we can and should be better. This is one reason why I am supporting Dr. Andrew Melin as our next superintendent.

He and the board have had very honest conversations regarding his role, the board’s role, micromanagement, honest/transparent communication and expectations moving forward. Most of us have a very clear understanding of how a board is supposed to function. I believe with Dr. Melin’s leadership, we will have the opportunity to be the board that our stakeholders deserve.

I’m not clear how you believe we defy logic. Perhaps you could elaborate by citing some specifics?

How exactly has the board failed our district? We invited community input from every town in our corporation, from staff, from mayoral appointments, from parents. We followed Indiana School Board Association protocol to the letter with regard to process and timeline. I’d be glad to give you a copy of their handbook.

We brought in a University Search Committee made up of former educators and superintendents from Indiana University, Ball State University and Indiana State University to help us whittle through the 17 applicants who applied. They asked what our community needed and they gave us the applicants who best fit those needs. We conducted first and second interviews with three different candidates. We went deep into their philosophies about continuing the academic achievement at Greater Clark so as to ensure we were picking someone with proven success and vision. We chose Dr. Andrew Melin based on his philosophy that every child should/can grow.

You say no one has done a “site” visit. Really? Well, we’ve actually done more than travel 4 1/2 hours to talk to three or four people. We’ve done Internet research, we’ve made eight phone calls to various members of the Valparaiso community checking into the background of Dr. Melin (including a prosecutor and a reporter). We’ve also contacted people in Peru and East Allen County. So technically, utilizing today’s opportunities for communication, we’ve done three “site” visits.

If two board members say they found out about Dr. Melin being the finalist when a press release was sent out Tuesday, they are flat lying. From Thursday night’s second interview to Dr. Melin accepting the offer June 4, I made personal contact with each board member at least three times to keep them up to speed on what was going on.

In fact, one of those board members stated May 31 night she could support Dr. Melin. Somehow between May 31 and June 4 morning, that changed. Anyway, on Monday those same two board members told me they weren’t going to support him. How could they tell me that if they didn’t know he was the finalist? They were each informed of the initial offer and the acceptance of a counter offer.

When I was contacted by the newspaper about the audit, my response was that I knew about it and had not had a chance to delve into it yet. I never said I was not familiar with it. I even stated I’d be glad to give a response after I had looked into it further. I also stated I knew about the JumboTron and I knew the truth about how that went down and that it was not a concern.

The audit was sent over to the Porter County prosecutor and as of Friday, there was not an investigation into the findings. Dr. Melin and his staff prepared responses and a corrective action plan. Valparaiso schools made mistakes, acknowledged mistakes and made policy/procedure changes to address those mistakes.

Greater Clark had a similar audit in 2010 with similar results. Board Member Becka Christensen said “it’s embarrassing.” What’s embarrassing is for a board member to act in a dysfunctional and unethical manner by stating in the public how she intends to vote on a matter that has not yet come before the board as a whole. Check out the ISBA Code of Ethics which we adopted as policy in 2008.

In your research about Valparaiso schools, did you find their recent report to the city council? The report shows growth in test results, implementation of full-day kindergarten and budgetary solidity. Are you going to report anything positive or are going to keep beating a dead horse with the one negative you’ve found? We’ve done our homework. Might I suggest you start getting both sides of a story.

If your opinion is such that you believe nonrenewing Dr. Daeschner’s contract was a mistake, well then we’ll have to agree to disagree. Dr. Daeschner’s salary was one piece of the decision; there are many more reasons that decision was made.

You state you are confused and wonder what we’re thinking. Perhaps if you gave us the courtesy of a conversation, we could alleviate some of your perplexity. You state we are thinking of ourselves and personal agendas. What exactly is my agenda? What is Mr. Pavey’s, Mr. Satterly’s or Mr. White’s agenda? Do tell. I need some clarification because I wasn’t aware I had an agenda other than to make Greater Clark the premier provider of education.

With regard to Dr. Melin doing his homework, he has been made fully aware of the shenanigans of some Greater Clark board members. May I suggest you educate yourselves as well?

Sincerely and in an effort to shed light on the whole story,

— Christina Gilkey, president, Greater Clark board of trustees