GEORGETOWN – The Otselic Valley Central School District bus, building, and grounds supervisor has resigned after claiming he was coerced into it.
“I was told my position was going to be cut and I had to resign,” said Kevin Springer. After being employed by the school district for 19 years, Springer is leaving one year away from the crucial 20 year mark, which will greatly effect the benefits he will receive as a retiree.
The matter of the Springer’s resignation was brought before the OVCS Board of Education during an open meeting on May 8. Approximately 15 minutes into the meeting – which began at 7:30 p.m. – executive session was called. At 8:30 p.m., Springer was called into the closed door meeting where he stayed until 9:13 p.m. About a half an hour later, the board returned to open session. Three members of the board voted in favor of accepting Springer’s resignation while the remaining two abstained from voting. Forty-two community members attended the meeting to show their support of Springer, including a spattering of district employees and students.
A petition imploring the board to not accept the resignation was also present, allegedly containing 220 signatures gathered during the week leading up to the meeting. At one point, a pair of sheriff’s deputies stopped by, though they did not enter the auditorium where the meeting was held.
“The superintendent has been picking on him and got him to resign,” claimed John Roalef, one of the attendees of the May 8 BOE meeting. “He was given two packages, if he resigned he would get a lot more money.”
“I was told it my position was going to be abolished because of the building project, but Hughes has had it out for me for speaking my mind and standing up for my drivers,” said Springer.
The superintendent and members of the BOE are not permitted to discuss personal matters with the public.
“Sometimes, people do not know all of the facts because it is a personal matter,” said Superintendent Richard Hughes. “Plain and simple, whether it's in regards to personal or whether it's what we are deciding to do with the curriculum or anything like that, we have got to make a decision based on what's best for the kids and the school. And that goes to the case of ‘is everyone doing the best job possible and it doesn't matter who it is,’ this isn't directed towards any one person, it's not. But are they doing the best job possible, if not, to get them the training they need ... If they are not willing to do that they are weighing down on everyone else.”
Since last year, OVCS has been outsourcing its busing to the nearby Sherburne-Earlville School District. Many of the parents present during the May BOE meeting had complaints regarding this, claiming pick-ups and drop-offs were not being done in a timely manner.
Although only a handful of OVCS employees were present at the meeting, community members who were present claimed they had received phone calls from teachers and staff who had wanted to attend, but were afraid of the consequences.
Attendees asked whether a new position would be created to replace the bus, building and grounds supervisor.
“That will not be happening,” said BOE president Gregory Brown.
Attendees also questioned the prudence of eliminating the position of building and grounds supervisor during the midst of a large building project and asked who would be overseeing the project now to which the superintendent answered he would be.
One teacher who was present read a written statement stating the need for Springer's position and reminding the BOE, “we are really here for the kids.”
“Tell me this isn't personal, Mr. Hughes was out to get me,” said Springer following the BOE meeting. Many of those present shook his hand as they exited the building, conveying the regret to see him go and thanking him for his service.
“Disagreements will happen,” said Hughes. “That’s part of the job and an administrator, I am willing to accept that,” he added in regards to personal comments which have been directed towards him.