Board tables charges, seeks to hire investigator

By Larry Blaskey
The Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:24 PM MDT


Less than a week after beginning proceedings to terminate Douglas Unified School District Superintendent Earl Pettit, the school board is still debating charges which caused the move.


The Douglas Unified School District Governing Board met in a special meeting on Monday, September 21, to discuss charges and other items related to the termination.

The board  spent more than an hour in executive session before voting to table the determination of charges against the superintendent.

After coming back in session, Board member Patricia Lopez made a motion that would delegate authority to Board President Chuck Hoyack to retain an investigator on behalf of the district, along with the authority for that him to work with the Human Resources Director and Business Manager to do so.

Board member Susan Kramer, who voted against the termination  last week, questioned having the person who brought the charges against Pettit in charge of finding the investigator.

After Hoyack recused himself from the vote, the board voted  2-2-1, with Kramer and Mario Ramos voting against Hoyack serving as the designated member and Lopez and Ed Rivera voting for it.

Immediately following, Hoyack moved that Susan Kramer serve as the designated board member.

Kramer recused herself and the board voted 4-0 in favor of the motion.

Later, Hoyack said that the board should immediately begin looking for an investigator, but no timeline was placed on obtaining those services even though two previous investigations over the last nine months had failed to move forward.

The board did indicate they are concerned about the time it would take for the investigation to be completed and the overall cost.

In a second move, the board agreed to send a letter to employees directing them to cooperate with the investigator and  to reassure them that no adverse actions will be taken against them for their responses. Also those interviews might require their assistance off-hours.

The board also voted 5-0 not to reassign Pettit to his home, and he is to remain serving as superintendent during this process.

The board voted to begin termination proceedings last week after a two-and-a-half hour executive session

That was the third meeting over the last year in which the Superintendent has been the subject of either termination or suspension during a board meeting.

At that meeting, Board President Chuck Hoyack and members Patricia Lopez and Ed Rivera voted for the termination while Mario Ramos, Jr., and Susan Kramer voted against the measure.

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    I support Pettit too wrote on Oct 7, 2009 8:22 PM:

    " This is a grate man. Someone who can help our children make it at the university level. And not just at cochise college just to help secure Hoyack's job. hoyack a greaT RECURITER for Cochise. Pettit ia a man who is not playing favor just doing his job. Unlike others on the school board. shameful! "

    Up Yours nose with a rubber hose wrote on Oct 7, 2009 7:20 AM:

    " $95 per hour! As nosey as the people from douglas are , they don't need to hire an investigator. Douglas people are idiots! "

    JUSTLOOKING wrote on Oct 6, 2009 10:18 AM:

    " I can't believe you people, it is easy to sit behind your computers and say mean things but you don't do anything constructive, just complain and cut people up with your sharp scissors. Oh well, so it goes in Douglas, AZ. "

    Not the One Who is Uninformed wrote on Oct 3, 2009 1:03 PM:

    " Do you live in a bubble? Or, just hanging around the Hoyack/Stevenson crowd? Yep, I'm a parent with kids in elementary and middle school, and a DUSD employee. Notice you didn't sign your name either... Truth hurts. "

    Pettit keep on keepin on wrote on Oct 3, 2009 12:27 PM:

    " To the person who responded to "Pettit don't give up". First of all, I'm not the one who wrote that blog but to the person that did, great job communicating how, yes, most people in the district feel about Mr. Pettit. He is one the side of doing things by the book, he won't do special favors, make special deals, and play the game with Hoyack, his wife, and the Stevenson principal. This guy isn't going to lose his dignity whereas the Hoyacks have none. Too bad if you don't like it that people really do like Pettit and want to see him fight the wrongs of the district. He is liked and gaining more respoect now than ever. "

    To Petitt dont give up wrote on Sep 30, 2009 5:17 PM:

    " I ask you... what community members and especially MOST district employess support Petitt?? If you have the guts to make an uniformed comment sign your name to the blog. Unless of course it is a made up fabrication. "

    youngowl wrote on Sep 30, 2009 2:48 PM:

    " If you are reading this Chuck, swallow your arrogance and clear this up. From what is apparent, your resignation is appropriate. That is sure the way it looks! So convince us otherwise. Act professionally and straighten this out or admit to the mistake. Same for Rivera who seems clueless most of the time anyway.
    You are representing this town to be a bunch of dopes! "

    DISGUSTED IN DOUGLAS wrote on Sep 29, 2009 9:45 PM:

    " And I supppose you really expect us to vote in favor of a property tax hike to continue to support this failed and totally mismanaged school district? Why isn't anybody concerned about the real issues, like continuing to graduate seniors who are unable to so much as declare their citizenship in the English language?
    Count me and an increasing number of others...OUT! "

    Past Employee wrote on Sep 29, 2009 8:29 PM:

    " Mr. Prettit all things will work out for the best. Being a past employee I know how the school board works and how they just want a puppet to do their bidding. This district has seen many different faces of the school board. I know first hand the 2003 school board was investigated by the Superintendent for corruption, until she was dismissed before the Superintendent uncovered just how deep the school board was involved. The school board even refussed to fire a teacher for sleeping with a student because that person was a friend of the school board.

    The long and short of it, if you have done nothing wrong find a new job quickly and walk out holding your head high. "

    PL wrote on Sep 28, 2009 10:14 PM:

    " Mr. Pettit many prayers are being lifted up for you. Stay strong. "

    Pettit Dont Give Up wrote on Sep 28, 2009 10:04 PM:

    " I don't know how you do it, keep coming to the district and taking one beating after the next. You need to know Mr. Pettit that you are respected for what you are doing for us. Many parents and teachers want you in Douglas and don't want you to give up. Hoyack, get lost. You have lost our respect. You are not the man that you want people to think you are. No matter what happens now you will never be respected again. "

    Get Real wrote on Sep 28, 2009 9:57 PM:

    " Don’t EVEN think about bringing Zamar back, not even temporarily. She was a sorry example of a good leader. If you ever dealt with her you would know that she made decisions that were in her best interest not in the interest of kids and teachers. She had a mean streak to her and a lot of us knew it. Funny, she and Hoyack got along great, see any commonalities here folks? There is more than one rat in our district starting with Hoyack, Lopez, Rivera, and one principal. If Pettit was not respected and wanted do you really think he’d have the support he has in the district and community? Hoyack, you need to give it up. YOU are what’s bad for our district, not Pettit. "

    Dreaming of a better Douglas wrote on Sep 28, 2009 5:24 PM:

    " Why can't Douglas improve its situation? Well the answers should be obvious. Douglas is a beautiful community wrought with public humiliation and shame. Due to this controversy, what kind of superintendent do you think you will ever be able to recruit--second-rate at best. Look at Southeast Arizona Medical Center since Carter left. How can you attract top-talent if we do not create a better climate? "

    WOW wrote on Sep 28, 2009 4:06 PM:

    " First the district has to pay the $600k he is suing for an now they have to pay an investigator to find legit charges against him??

    They keep throwing money into this problem... Should of just waited till his contract was up and not bring him back..

    OH, um... he would just cry like Cormier and they would bring him back....

    The Dispatch is still a joke! "

    student wrote on Sep 28, 2009 12:56 PM:

    " We just need to get rid of Hoyack, Rivera and Lopez. Its obvious what their intentions are. If we can see it as students anyone should be. And no Unite we dont need Borane or Gomez involved they have/had their own problems. We just need to get rid of the three board members who have personal agendas. "

    Get Real wrote on Sep 28, 2009 12:44 PM:

    " To all of you who are supporters of Pettit, why don't you google him and see what he did to White River School District? Stop pointing fingers at the Board Members, and research Pettit. The Board is doing a great job and this man needs to be investigated!!! He has divided the community and district. He needs to get out of Douglas and so does his little group of followers. GET HIM OUT!!! "

    young owl wrote on Sep 28, 2009 9:37 AM:

    " I hope this fiasco teaches us a lesson. Good leaders are not just the ones who volunteer. Let's face it; we are too lazy to get involved. Sure, Chuck is evil in his intent but anyone who knows him knows what a prideful hot-head he is. This should come as no surprise. And Ed Rivera hasn't got the sense to get in out of the dust unless some government agency tells him to.
    This is serious folks. Remember this come election time. "

    To Personal Vendetta wrote on Sep 27, 2009 7:39 PM:

    " In response to "Personal Vendetta":

    I think it is you that does not know the whole truth. There is NO personal vendetta. There is NO personal revenge. The truth will set the board members free soon enough. What is unfortunate is that this superintendant came to this school district with every intention of creating turmoil, distrust, and situations which have pitted people against each other. As for "cronies" out to get "poor" Mr. Petitt, I believe he has created his own GROUP OF CRONIES that believe every unethical breath he takes. "

    Chuck wrote on Sep 27, 2009 7:10 PM:

    " Just do not go and select any former DUSD administrators to serve as an investigator. That would be conflict of interest, get an impartial person for once. "

    Bets wrote on Sep 27, 2009 6:13 PM:

    " Anyone taking any bets on how this will all end? If it makes you feel better we're not the only District in a mess. Queen Creek just fired their superintendent, Tanque Verde fired theirs (pervert), Sunnyside Superintendent is under investigation and so is Nogales'. So hey it's not a good season for superintendents. Fire Pettit, split his money for school administrators they're doing the real job anyway, and have them run school site management with district level responsibilities divided within their ranks. The bigger issues should be given to the high school principal and administration, they run an operation that is way more demanding and complex.Each principal could take on a piece of District operations, such as maintenance, business etc..Believe me we'd be way better off. "

    Show Your Face wrote on Sep 27, 2009 6:02 PM:

    " To all disgruntled community members why are you not present at the board meetings to voice your opinion on the state of leadership? Are you all so cowardly that you will not voice your right to speak in person, regardless of whom or what you support. To remain faceless and spout all the hateful comments in the blogs again regardless of your thinking is pointless, do so in public. Then and only then will your opinion carry any validity. We have a Board that has lost it's way, a superintendent that never knew the way and a District that is trying to find the way ...back to serving our children under an environment that has their best interest at heart. "

    To blindbaby wrote on Sep 26, 2009 9:02 PM:

    " Like Mr. Pettit is not costing this district money!!! First of all by not doing his job and getting paid and then bringing a 600,000 lawsuit! Come on. He should have been put on leave the moment that he brought the lawsuit. Can we say conflict of intrest. Look at Pettit's history... Try an internet search, very interesting. "

    too much conflict of intrest wrote on Sep 26, 2009 1:10 AM:

    " hoyack the Dean of cochise collage and the board president of the local school. too much power for one man to have. That is why people fear him. the local bully with a bad temper. "

    annonymous wrote on Sep 25, 2009 11:53 AM:

    " You have got to be kidding, terminate him but keep him working???? "

    No cause wrote on Sep 25, 2009 9:17 AM:

    " Funny how Hoyack can't come up with a list of cause, probably because it doesn't exist. I'm sure he'd like to be the judge and the jury, and he tried, didn't he?! More money out the window for this district. What a waste. Hoyack has no business sense, just a big giant head, inflated with his own ego. And that, Douglasites, is what you voted to run your schools.There's been nothing but fighting since he got on the board. Look back through the years, you'll see. "

    blindbaby wrote on Sep 24, 2009 9:00 PM:

    " I saw the video on channel 9.and I am a shame to tell people I am from Douglas, Chuck hoyack, Patrica Lopez, and Ed Rivera should be removed from the school Board, they are costing the district alots of money. Because Mr. pettit doesn't want to be Chuck hoyack puppet, and want to install Mr. Ortiz has his puppet because of stevenson school. "

    just me wrote on Sep 24, 2009 4:53 PM:

    " So ...you fired the man and now you have to hire an investigator to find out why you fired him ???? "

    Unreal wrote on Sep 24, 2009 4:00 PM:

    " Didn't Hoyack hire Petit in the first place and now he wants to fire him? What on earth are these people doing? Talk about keeping the community in the dark. "

    Mike wrote on Sep 24, 2009 2:25 PM:

    " Just in time for Halloween, a Hoyack witch hunt. This is what happens when you get involved in Stevenson School's business. "

    Personal Vendetta wrote on Sep 24, 2009 12:59 PM:

    " It is unfortunate that some of the board members are wasting so much time and energy on what seems to be a "getting even" scheme against Mr. Pettit. What kind of message are we sending our children? That it is ok to bully people as long as it is not happening in the classroom? That we can wish bad on someone else while we continue to attend church and participate in organizations that promote unity and compassion for others; that we can create our own war but ask our children to pray for those that are fighting in Afghanistan and other countries?
    I feel that if certain board members would reflect and analyse their own lives and the opportunities that God has given them to continue life on this earth, they would not be trying to "get even" with Mr. Pettit but rather embrace the changes that he has brought and wants to continue to bring to our community. Policies have always been placed in organizations so they can run smoothly and if Mr. Pettit wants to run the district "by the book", so be it. Why punish him for it? Is he a bad person for wanting to do what is ethical? It saddens me to know that the leaders of our community are allowing their "croonies" to influence their actions and infest their minds with evil.
    Shame on you folks that do not know the whole truth, but are ready to cast stones and crucify a human being just because the person(s) feeding you the info has a personal vedetta against him. "

    Unite wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:48 PM:

    " All school administrators and school teachers should unite and demand the board get it's act together.Either kick Pettit out or let him do his job, all this back and forth bad press does no one any good.I am disappointed that community leaders have not stepped in and brought this issue to an end. Ray Borane, Mayor Gomez, Chamber President, people who love this city unite and get this district back on track. This fiasco hurts everyone in every sector. Business people who will be your customers when no one wants to move here? This affects everyone not just our children. Leaders of the community should be at Pettit's door and setting him straight as well as meeting Board members to remind them of their duty to our community. "

    Please wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:32 PM:

    " Please stop this nonsense! Get rid of Pettit once and for all and Board members give up your positions. We need a clean house to conduct the business of education. Our school district cannot continue to suffer this uncertainity of leadership. Bring back Gail Zamar until a new superintendent can be found. But first we need a strong voter turn out to elect new board members. It is very difficult to stay focused in our classrooms when all this chaos between the board and the superintendent is a daily issue. Now we have to worry about all these news people showing up at our schools. Please Douglas Community, city officials and county superintendent do something to stop this bleeding! "

    The Old Owl wrote on Sep 23, 2009 6:22 PM:

    " Let me see if I have it right, Chuck. You want to spend Douglas school's precious little money to hire an investigator, when you could use the money to hire more staff or resources to make our troubled schools all higher performing. Maybe Karen Nicodemus should intervene here and find out whether this is a gift of public funds for your own personal search for a needle in a haystack. "

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