Is the Austin School Board majority bloc dissipating?

During recent meetings, the group, which at one time consisted of chairman Don Fox, clerk Curt Rude, vice president Richard Lees and treasurer Diana Wangsness, has not been voting in uniform.

All except Lees were elected new to the board last November, and have consistently voted the same, overriding opinions of the remaining three members. Their unofficial platform was addressing reports of unhappy staff, high turnover and a micromanaging administration.

At the board meeting Monday night — the first regular meeting with interim superintendent Bruce Anderson — members voted 5-2 to not table central office contracts for 2009-11, a motion brought forth by Lees.

“I feel at the present time there are areas of concern that should be addressed,” Lees said, explaining he believes the board needs more time to review the contracts, which do not expire until June 30, 2009.

The central office consists of Lori Volz, director of finance and operations; Amy Baskin, director of Community Education and communications; Melissa Schaller, director of special services; John Alberts, curriculum coordinator; Chris Picha, director of human resources; and Tim Hermann, activities director.

Anderson enthusiastically supports the average two-year package increase of 8.79 percent.

Lees and Rude both voted to table the contracts for discussion during a work session.

Following the meeting, both said they believe they need to carry out promises made to the constituents who voted them to the board.

“I feel I could not forget the people who elected me to this position,” Rude said. “I have some specific concerns — they’re there.”

Rude said he believes there exists a lack of communication among faculty and administration, and that members of the central office have been heavy-handed with staff turnover.

Lees said if some contracts were not renewed in the central office, they could notify those staff in January of their non-renewal before their contracts expire next summer.

Wangsness said during the meeting she believes there are still “concerns” in the central office, but wants a “kinder, gentler district” and is putting her “faith and trust” in Anderson.

“I think we as a board have seen excellence from this team,” board member Mary Kleis said of the administration.

Lees said central staff evaluations “hopefully can strengthen the areas that are needed.”

Neither Lees nor Rude indicated which particular central staff they were eluding to, though Rude praised Volz and Alberts for their work in the district.

Lees said Monday he still does not believe a voting bloc ever existed on the board.