BY DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
About 35 Burton Elementary School supporters complained Monday that the Cincinnati Board of Education's decision to not renew their principal's contract proves its unwillingness to include the community in important decisions.
The protesters -- most parents of the Avondale school's students -- demanded to know why board members failed to renew Eugenia Bobb's contract, which expires in July. They also asked that she be reinstated. Ms. Bobb -- and another principal and assistant principal -- learned last month that their contracts wouldn't be renewed. District Superintendent J. Michael Brandt recommended the non-renewals. State law doesn't require the board to explain why it chooses not to offer new contracts.
But Burton parents said it should.
"As elected officials, you have the duty to ensure that the public understands the reasons why you make the decisions you do," said Chanda Monroe, president of the Avondale Community Council. "I understand that there's a state law that says you do not have to explain the decisions you make. You don't have to. But you should." Spencer Bouldin, president of Burton's parent-teacher organization, agreed: "The board asks for parental involvement, and in this school and this community, you have that. It should never have been a surprise that our principal's contract was not renewed."
Board members made no promises, but member Catherine Ingram agreed to look into their complaints.
"The children are the bottom line," she said. "We'll make sure this is taken care of."
Supporters say Ms. Bobb has been instrumental in increasing parental and community involvement in the 600-student school. "We had principals before that didn't care," said parent volunteer Donna Thompson, whose five children have been through Burton. "We have a principal now that gets down and dirty."
Supporters threatened civil disobedience if administrators don't explain by week's end why they didn't renew Ms. Bobb's contract.
"If we're going to talk about perfection, then Mr. Brandt would have been non-renewed and none of you would have been re-elected," said the Rev. Michael Cash, pastor of First New Shiloh Baptist Church in Avondale. "We're making progress. We have fine people in place. Give us a chance."
