Frustrated by what they say is unacceptable secrecy surrounding leadership decisions, parents of students at an Inver Grove Heights charter school hope a Thursday meeting will finally provide some answers.
Terri Siguenza, who was recently named interim director and leadership consultant of Discovery Charter School, will host a meeting for parents at 6 p.m. Thursday, according to an email from the school. The purpose of the meeting is to answer questions about the school and its leadership “transition.”
“Parents are upset,” said Tony Ashbacher, whose daughter recently finished kindergarten at the school. “It’s hard when you are trying to fight for your child’s education not to get any answers. Your voice doesn’t feel like it is being heard.”
Siguenza replaces Dan Hurley as leader of the charter school that opened in September 2016. The school’s board of directors voted June 17 not to renew Hurley’s contract in what parents have described as a hastily called Saturday meeting that violated the school’s bylaws regarding personnel decisions.
Hurley’s ouster outraged parents who considered his leadership an integral part of the school’s success. Hurley says he was given no reason why his contract wasn’t renewed and school leaders have not responded to repeated interview requests.
Hurley’s contract ended June 30 and Siguenza was picked days later to replace him without the board holding a public meeting. Minnesota law requires school governance decisions be made in public and state education leaders asked Discovery officials July 7 to provide details about Siguenza’s hiring.
A July 5 email to parents from Samuel Master, board chair, said he understood parents’ frustrations, but he couldn’t discuss the school’s personnel decisions. The email also announces Siguenza’s appointment and gives details about her work experience, but does not include any information about how the hiring decision was made.
Siguenza already has a connection to Discovery Charter School. She works as the director of English language education for Designs for Learning, a St. Paul-based charter school consultant, which works for Discovery.
Siguenza did not respond to a request for comment.
An April financial report shows Discovery Charter School received about $2 million in state funding this school year and spent about $140,000 on “purchased services” not including transportation.
The school’s contract with Designs for Learning includes the firm providing technology, special education and human resources services. The firm also notes on its website that it won a 2016 award for managing the school’s finances.
Some Discovery parents complained to the state Department of Education that they didn’t think hiring Designs for Learning was a good use of resources, according to a June letter from the department to school leaders.
The letter from the state also acknowledges other parent concerns over school leadership and transparency. They include the board at times lacking a teacher representative, which is required by law, the failure to remove a board member who didn’t show up for meetings and the board stacking committees to consolidate power over the school.
Ashbacher expects a big crowd at Siguenza’s parent meeting Thursday, but he really wants board members to respond to parents’ concerns and repeated inquiries. He hopes the board will add parent members, improve transparency and hire Hurley back to lead the school.
“We just want a voice in our children’s education. We chose the charter school model because we wanted something different for our kids. Why is the board denying parents the opportunity to be actively involved in their children’s education?” Ashbacher said.