LIMA — The Perry school board likely will wait for several months to vote on high school Principal Nick Wiengart’s contract after a large turnout at its school board meeting Tuesday.
More than 100 people showed up to the board’s meeting Tuesday, mostly in support of the board keeping Wiengart on staff. Weingart is on contract through the 2016-17 school year. However, some board members have had concerns with Weingart’s actions as principal. It led to tabling a measure to extend Weingart’s contract past 2017 at the June meeting.
Several residents said they do not think Weingart should be let go. Darwin Lee, a janitor with the school district, spoke in support of the principal.
“As a janitor, I don’t like how everything always is around here,” Lee said. “Sometimes you get some things wrong, as anybody does. When you are in a position of administration, any mistake is advertised like crazy. I think what Nick is doing here to help the kids is working.”
Mark Hoersten, a lifelong resident, graduate and teacher at Perry, told the board that Weingart “impressed me the first day he walked into the school. We are here to support the administration and Nick in particular.”
Larry Sidener, a former school board member, said he felt agendas may be involved and said the board should vote for “what is the best for the kids in Perry, not just your kids.”
A few people did raise concerns.
Diane Rumbaugh-Dick said she had concerns that the board had hired a husband and wife tandem as elementary and high school principals and claimed there had been strong-arm tactics that had been committed by teachers and staff.
“That leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Rumbaugh-Dick said.
Joe McDonnell said he was speaking for the silent majority about concerns. He said many people were afraid to speak out because vandalism acts had been committed on others.
“Administrators need to be held accountable,” McDonnell said. “If you didn’t do anything wrong, then you don’t have anything to worry about. Nobody is irreplaceable. Things have been done wrong here for too long.”
While not in attendance at the meeting, one former student, Morgan Abry, 16, spoke of bullying problems at the school. She said she reported problems several times at the school, including to Weingart. She said the only solution ever offered was to have her stay away from the students giving her a problem. Morgan said she eventually was forced to leave the school because the problem became so persistent. Morgan’s mother provided a video of Morgan being attacked by another student on her last day of school at Perry.
Still, others said Weingart had shown improved scores academically, improved school spirit and had brought many useful programs to the school.
After several hours of hearing from the public, the board moved on to other issues. Board president Rusty Rush said that the board has until the end of the school year and is in no rush to make a decision on something that many people are concerned with.
“We have a new school board member and it is only fair that they have a chance to look at it longer,” Rush said. “We have until March. There are many people concerned and we will take a look at everything.”
Board members have not pointed out specific concerns, pointing to discussions in executive session as protected. Weingart has been principal at the school for nine years. Kathy Sholl is serving as interim high school principal because of a health issue that Weingart is experiencing. He has not responded to an email asking for comment.
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