Friday, August 15, 2008

Respectfully, Eagle Ridge Academy Executive Director, Dick Tater, II

Thursday's post regarding the letter to parents from Eagle Ridge Academy's brand spankin’ new executive director, John Howitz, turned out to be quite lengthy. Who would have thought that a ½ page out of a 3 page letter would be so chock full of blogging material. A case of what was left unsaid speaking volumes. A veritable blogging bonanza! And the vein is still rich in material, so let’s go mining for what is left.

As most are aware, the previous administration at Eagle Ridge Academy was plagued with the undefined accusation of “communications” issues. These nebulous claims became the rallying cry during the Reid, Garvin, Erb coup and ultimately led to the spineless board capitulating to the demands of the mob and dismissing the former director without explanation. The board, rather than supporting the school’s leader, hopped on board the “communications” train and in one of its most bizarre, inept and morally bankrupt actions formed a second communications committee although the board already had a communications committee.

Now if the actions of the board were truly sincere and the regime change was brought about because of serious and substantiated issues, the Eagle Ridge Academy community should have expected better and more frequent communication from both the board and the school to herald the New Era of Communication. This blog has already documented the lack of information from the board regarding the search for the new director and communication since then has been at best sparse if practically non-existent. Thursday’s post began the examination into the woeful efforts of the new administration in this New Era of Communication.

The remaining 2 ½ pages of the Howitz’s look innocuous enough upon first glance as all that is left is a contact list and the mission and vision of Eagle Ridge Academy. Having already documented that no evidence was provided that the mission and vision are in any way connected to the schedule and curriculum changes, we are left to study the remaining contact list and the gaping black hole of missing information. In our final analysis of the letter and to best understand the complete and utter failure of the current administration and staff to provide more and better communication, a step back in time is required.

On July 27, 2007 the following information was sent to Eagle Ridge Academy parents:

7.27.2007 Newsletter
2007-2008 School Calendar
2007-2008 Supply List
2007-2008 Uniform Policy
2007-2008 Bus Fee and Payment Policy

Here are the examples for this year:

Read this document on Scribd: calendar 2008 2009

Read this document on Scribd: Supply List High School 08-09

Read this document on Scribd: Supply List Middle School 08-09

The most obvious failure of the new administration and staff is that (except for the supply list and dates/times for orientation) communication regarding the new year is being sent out later then last year. The calendar for the new year was not received until August 6 (10 days later) and new staff announcements not until August 14 (18 days later). Given that the supply list is just a retread of past years, it is not any great feat to have sent this earlier, and no updated uniform policy or information regarding a bus fee/payment has been received to date. Finally, to beat a dead horse, none of this has been posted on the website as it was last year. In fact, even though the board canned the previous director four months ago, no evidence that the new and improved website is nearing its completion has been received except for the lame promise from Karin Bertoldi on August 8, “The new Eagle Ridge Academy website is close to being launched”.

The quality of information is severely deficient as well. The dates/times for orientation may have been provided earlier than last year, but no other information regarding the nature of orientation was included as found in the July 27, 2007 Eagle Ridge Academy newsletter. Also missing from Howitz’s letter is any update on enrollment. As stakeholders in this charter school adventure, many of us our curious as to how many new students will be joining the school, as charter schools are so dependent on enrollment for funding. Is the school trying to hide something? Is enrollment lower than last year and/or turnover greater than expected? Not only is funding a concern, but also the culture that is so important to the vitality and uniqueness of Eagle Ridge Academy can be greatly affected by a large turnover of students.

It’s laughable that the new school calendar was received 10 days later then last year. Compare the two of them! I seriously doubt that this year’s anemic effort took 10 days more of work. It is so pitiful, I almost feel bad picking on it … I might really damage its self-esteem. Even the key at the bottom is dyslexic, putting the last day of school at the top of the list and the first day of school at the bottom.

The most severe example of a deficiency in quality of information relates directly to the contact list found in Howitz’s letter. In the July 27, 2007 Eagle Ridge Academy newsletter, the school dedicated half of a page to staffing news for the new year. New teachers were introduced with a paragraph detailing their background and qualifications to teach at Eagle Ridge Academy. Additionally, teachers who were not returning were mentioned and bid a fond farewell. Howitz’s contact list assumes that you can not only figure out who is new and who is returning, but the administration doesn’t even bother to let you know why these new teachers are fit to teach your children and how they will add to the mission and vision of Eagle Ridge Academy. For a school that invested an amazing amount of capital in ushering in this New Era of Communication, it sure leaves a lot to be desired. A staff and administration intent on good communication would leave nothing to conjecture and would take the lead on setting the tone for this year. To leave this responsibility to others only continues and exacerbates the negative climate left from last year’s fiasco.

Here are my additions to Howitz's skeletal contact list:

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Mr. John Howitz, Director, 952-746-7760 ext. 103, jhowitz@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Howitz is new this year. The following is the only information provided to the Eagle Ridge Academy community regarding Mr. Howitz. Contrast this to the Nova Classical letter regarding their new director:

http://www.novaclassical.org/files/2008-2009/board/Exec%20Dir%202%200.doc

Eagle Ridge Academyhas [sic] hired a new director: John Howitz. John holds a Minnesota principal’s license, has been a social studies teacher, and has founded a charter school. He has been the alternative Programs Coordinator for the Minneapolis Public Schools, the Executive Director for the Metropolitan Federation of Alternative Schools, the Principal at MTS/PEASE Academy in Minneapolis, and the Assistant Principal at Crossroads High School in Anoka. John comes to Eagle Ridge Academy with a lot of experience in fiscal management of schools and large alternative programs and has been successful in building programs throughout his career. He and his daughter are currently traveling in Poland teaching English, but I’m sure he would love it if you stopped in to meet him in August. We look forward to a great year with renewed energy and enthusiasm [sic]

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=311904

Mrs. Karin Bertoldi, Administrative Assistant, 952-746-7760 ext. 102, kbertoldi@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Bertoldi is returning from last year. I don’t know why she is placed on this list above the Dean of Students. The list isn’t alphabetical and in terms of rank she would place lower than the Dean of Students, except maybe in her own mind.

Mrs. Erin Johnson, Dean of Students, College Counselor, 952-746-7760 ext. 104, ejohnson@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Johnson is returning from last year, although no information is given on the addition of College Counselor to her title as she is not licensed in counseling.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=417567

Mrs. Johnson is also taking on the additional role of humanities instructor. (Please see faculty list below.) Mr. Howitz does not explain how her time will be divided between her responsibilities as Dean of Students, College Counselor and teacher.

Mrs. Karen Conner, Receptionist, 952-746-7760, kconner@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Conner is returning from last year.

FACULTY

Mr. Jon Kamrath, Art, grades 6-8, 952-746-7760 ext. 123, jkamrath@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Kamrath is new this year. These links could provide information about him, but how would we ever know for sure?

http://www.kamrathsculpture.com/
http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=415627

Mrs. Lisa Johnson, Art, grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 119, ljohnson@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Johnson is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=344055

Mrs. Sonja Menard, English, grades 6-8, 952-746-7760 ext. 129, smenard@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Menard is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=429284

Mr. Daniel Clapero, History, grades 6-8, 952-746-7760 ext. 128, dclapero@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Clapero is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=414336

Mr. John Niemann, Humane Letters, (History/Philosophy/Literature/Writing) Grades 9-12,952-746-7760, ext. 118, jniemann@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Niemann is returning from last year. It would have been nice for Mr. Howitz to note if it is assumed that Mr. Niemann will be a licensed community expert this year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=998667

Dr. Austen Rockcastle, Humane Letters, (History/Philosophy/Literature/Writing) grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 116, arockcastle@eagleridgeacademy.org

Dr. Rockcastle is returning from last year. As with Mr. Niemann, it would have been nice for Mr. Howitz to note if it is assumed that Dr. Rockcastle will be a licensed community expert this year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=998785

Mrs. Erin Johnson, Humane Letters, (History/Philosophy/Literature/Writing) grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 104, ejohnson@eagleridgeacademy.org

Please see Mrs. Johnson’s information under Administrative Staff.

Mrs. Melissa Hegg, Latin, grades 6-8, 952-746-7760 ext.134, hmegg@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Hegg is new this year. No information could be found on Mrs. Hegg including a Minnesota teaching license, Mr. Howitz does not offer any explanation. I wonder why her email address is “hmegg” instead of “mhegg”?

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?firstName=melissa&lastName=hegg&SUBMIT=GO

Mr. Robert Stulac, Latin, grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 113, rstulac@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Stulac is returning from last year. Mr. Stulac’s licensure information qualifies him to teach as a short-call substitute. Mr. Howitz does not answer how this was taken care of last year as Mr. Stulac taught for more than
15 consecutive days at Eagle Ridge Academy or how Mr. Stulac plans to be a fully licensed teacher for this academic year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=443349

Mrs. Jessica Bergeron, Latin, grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 115, jbergeron@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Bergeron is new this year. Mr. Howitz does not address any plans for Mrs. Bergeron’s license for this year and whether he plans to seek a variance for her to teach Latin at Eagle Ridge Academy.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=423628

Mrs. Robbie Oeltjenbruns, Mathematics, 952-746-7760 ext.135, roeltjenbruns@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Oeltjenbruns is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=297213

Ms. Laura Langhoff, Mathematics, 952-746-7760 ext. 112, llanghoff@eagleridgeacademy.org

Ms. Langhoff is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=387758

Mr. Robert Guelich, Mathematics, 952-746-7760 ext. 140, bguelich@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mr. Guelich is returning from last year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=418664

Ms. Hope Grover, Music, 952-746-7760 ext. 126, hgrover@eagleridgeacademy.org

Ms. Grover is returning from last year. Maybe the reason that choir seems to have been dropped from the schedule at Eagle Ridge Academy is because she is not licensed to teach it. If that is the case, too bad Mr. Howitz could not have come up with a better solution or have been honest enough to admit that in the curriculum and schedule changes section of the letter.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=403529

Mrs. Carolyn Sommers-Tillotson, Science grades 6-8, 952-746-7760 ext. 125, csommers@eagleridgeacademy.org

Mrs. Sommers Tillotson is returning from last year. However, Mr. Howitz does not address the issue that Mrs. Sommers Tillotson is only licensed to teach grades 7-12.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=402139

And why isn't her email address csommerstillotson@eagleridgeacademy.org?

Dr. Heather Rissler, Science, grades 9-12, 952-746-7760 ext. 124, hrissler@eagleridgeacademy.org

Dr. Rissler is returning from last year. She does not appear to have been licensed during her short tenure last year, and Mr. Howitz does not provide any information or status update for her license this year.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=430733

Ms. Mary Wolff, Spanish, 952-746-7760 ext. 130, mwolff@eagleridgeacademy.org

Ms. Wolff is new this year and is licensed in PE, coaching and Spanish.

http://education.state.mn.us/LicenseDisplay/searchAction.do?folderNumber=172226

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