On Tuesday night in closed session, the board took action to authorize the district superintendent to notify an administrative employee that the employee will be released from their administrative positions. Four board members voted yes, and one board member abstained.
The school board did not name the school employee to be dismissed. Numerous sources said Principal Ron Perry will be removed from his position for the 2024-2025 school year.
More than a dozen Northern Humboldt teachers voiced support for Perry in an open comment session starting at 5 p.m.
Staff expressed disapproval of the decision to dismiss Perry, but also the lack of transparency leading up to the decision.
“If this is the direction the superintendent and the board want to go in then the staff need answers to some vital questions. How was this decided without any input without any staff evaluation or department chairs’ input?” Maureen Kiritsy, Arcata High’s special education teacher and department chair, said.
Many staff members were unaware of the decision until just before the board meeting. Superintendent Roger Macdonald stated he couldn’t inform staff on the topic beforehand because employee personnel matters cannot be disclosed publicly.
Arcata High and Six Rivers teacher Bethany Schmidt shared that she hoped the administration would be more attentive to teachers’ perspectives.
“The way this termination has been handled is absolutely appalling. We have been given no reasoning. We feel blindsided and demoralized,” Schmidt said.
Speakers continued to line up in support of Perry — each with stories of how he influenced their experiences at Arcata High.
“These last few years have been the hardest, and I am not alone in my feelings. Ron Perry has been a beacon of hope throughout these years,” history teacher Jennifer Coriell said.
History teacher Owen Moore spoke of Perry’s impact.
“He (Perry) has made me feel my opinion matters, and my voice is heard (and) that is rare,” he said. “There is no person alive that has more passion for Arcata High than Ron Perry.”
After the open session, Macdonald thanked staff for their comments and was met with snide remarks. Teachers gathered in the quad and discussed frustration with the administration while board members voted during closed session inside.
Both Macdonald and Perry declined to comment by deadline and it is currently unclear why the board made this decision and who will fill this position for next year.
This story was originally published on The Pepperbox, the newspaper of Arcata High School.
