Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Strawberry Park Elementary School Principal John DeVincentis took control of a school board meeting Monday night, ignoring board President Paul Fisher who repeatedly told DeVincentis he was out of order.

DeVincentis used the time allotted for staff comment to refute what he said were false statements made about him during a Nov. 14 hearing. He passed out transcripts of the testimony and played portions of the audiotape from the hearing to the board and the audience. Fisher pounded his gavel and tried to stop the presentation.

"This is not a hearing," Fisher said. "This is totally out of order."

But DeVincentis simply continued with his remarks.

"I don't want anything said about me in public to not be true," DeVincentis said. "I want it very clear it was an intentionally untrue statement made about me."

The Nov. 14 hearing involved DeVincentis' appeal of his poor performance evaluation by Superintendent Cyndy Simms.

At the hearing, Simms testified that former superintendent J. Alan Aufderheide believed DeVincentis had deficiencies as a principal and that Aufderheide recommended at some point in his career that DeVincentis' contract not be renewed.

On Monday, DeVincentis distributed copies of a letter he received from Aufderheide. In the letter, Aufderheide said he did not recall any discussions of contract renewal with either Simms or DeVincentis.

Simms said little about the accusations following the meeting.

"I believe there are two perspectives on this issue," Simms said. She declined further comment.

DeVincentis' actions ignored a school board policy that clearly defines the guidelines for appealing an issue to the board, Fisher said.

"This board and this superintendent have been sitting for months listening to your concerns, your allegations and your accusations," Fisher told DeVincentis.

Fisher said DeVincentis ignored the policy written specifically because of his circumstances.

The appeals process takes too much time and effort for the type of response it garners from the board, DeVincentis said. Making the comments in public and during the time allotted for staff comment was the best option, he said.

"It was my only opportunity to refute what was said at the public hearing," DeVincentis said. "(The board) offered executive session, but I said no because I know (the issue would) dead-end there."

Numerous teachers and other DeVincentis supporters attended the meeting. Several questioned the abbreviated minutes from the Nov. 14 hearing. The board later approved those minutes, which were a brief summary of the events of the hearing. The record of the hearing is the numerous audiotapes recorded of the hearing, the board said. The tapes are public record and copies are available for interested parties.

Simms and DeVincentis are scheduled to attend mediation Feb. 28. The purpose of the mediation is for the two administrators to develop and maintain a professional working relationship.

DeVincentis declined to comment on what effect Monday's meeting would have on the mediation process.

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com

DeVincentis used the time allotted for staff comment to refute what he said were false statements made about him during a Nov. 14 hearing. He passed out transcripts of the testimony and played portions of the audiotape from the hearing to the board and the audience. Fisher pounded his gavel and tried to stop the presentation.

"This is not a hearing," Fisher said. "This is totally out of order."

But DeVincentis simply continued with his remarks.

"I don't want anything said about me in public to not be true," DeVincentis said. "I want it very clear it was an intentionally untrue statement made about me."

The Nov. 14 hearing involved DeVincentis' appeal of his poor performance evaluation by Superintendent Cyndy Simms.

At the hearing, Simms testified that former superintendent J. Alan Aufderheide believed DeVincentis had deficiencies as a principal and that Aufderheide recommended at some point in his career that DeVincentis' contract not be renewed.

On Monday, DeVincentis distributed copies of a letter he received from Aufderheide. In the letter, Aufderheide said he did not recall any discussions of contract renewal with either Simms or DeVincentis.

Simms said little about the accusations following the meeting.

"I believe there are two perspectives on this issue," Simms said. She declined further comment.

DeVincentis' actions ignored a school board policy that clearly defines the guidelines for appealing an issue to the board, Fisher said.

"This board and this superintendent have been sitting for months listening to your concerns, your allegations and your accusations," Fisher told DeVincentis.

Fisher said DeVincentis ignored the policy written specifically because of his circumstances.

The appeals process takes too much time and effort for the type of response it garners from the board, DeVincentis said. Making the comments in public and during the time allotted for staff comment was the best option, he said.

"It was my only opportunity to refute what was said at the public hearing," DeVincentis said. "(The board) offered executive session, but I said no because I know (the issue would) dead-end there."

Numerous teachers and other DeVincentis supporters attended the meeting. Several questioned the abbreviated minutes from the Nov. 14 hearing. The board later approved those minutes, which were a brief summary of the events of the hearing. The record of the hearing is the numerous audiotapes recorded of the hearing, the board said. The tapes are public record and copies are available for interested parties.

Simms and DeVincentis are scheduled to attend mediation Feb. 28. The purpose of the mediation is for the two administrators to develop and maintain a professional working relationship.

DeVincentis declined to comment on what effect Monday's meeting would have on the mediation process.