Norfolk announces shakeup at troubled alternative school

NORFOLK

Face to face with school officials Wednesday night, Madison Career Center teachers spoke of their love of working with at-risk children, frustration with ineffective discipline policies, and concerns about what they termed harassment and intimidation from administrators.

“We just want our school to have a safe environment,” Melissa Brown told the School Board . “We just want our voice to be heard.”

Hours earlier, administrators had announced that Madison’s site coordinator/principal would be replaced as of Tuesday, and that the entire staff will be required to reapply for their jobs for next school year. No one will be terminated, officials said, but some may receive similar positions at other schools.

The news came less than a week after a group of teachers, staff and students distributed a 185-page booklet describing “low morale and unsafe working and learning environment” at Madison. Using e-mails, statements and photographs, the document detailed alleged threats and assaults against staff members, as well as general unruly behavior and clashes between teachers and the school’s leader.

Superintendent Stephen C. Jones said his decision wasn’t related to the booklet, however. He had been considering for weeks whether to close the school, change its leadership or change both leadership and staff, and he wanted to give employees enough time to make a transition to another job.

“There needs to be a self-assessment on their part as to whether or not they want to be in this environment,” Jones said of the 45 staff members at an earlier session. “I’m hoping that the majority of these teachers – because many of them have been there for years – will choose to stay.”

Teachers said it felt like retribution.

“The staff has been asked to reapply for our jobs because we have asked for help,” Darnita Woodhouse told board members.

Madison, near 37th Street at Hampton Boulevard, serves middle and high school students who have serious behavior problems, including many with long-term suspensions. It generally holds up to 290 students at a time, and up to 550 students attend the school in a year.

Staff members began speaking out about safety concerns at the school about a year ago, after the departure of Principal Michael L. McIntosh.

McIntosh later filed allegations of civil rights violations at the school. The investigation by the U.S. Department of Education remains open.

This year, administrators have been working to improve conditions by adding security officers and administrators to help with special education, the GED program and other instructional support. The school has held two retreats to allow staff members to express their concerns and develop a plan of action.

However, a problem of communication between staff members and the school’s leader of less than a year, John Hatcher, persisted, Jones said.

“They just felt that it wasn’t there, and they weren’t being listened to,” he said. “John Hatcher is a good man, has a good heart, and I hate to see this come about, but it happens in this business from time to time. More often than not it’s about the fit, it’s about the match.”

Hatcher has been assigned administrative leave until the end of the year and will be reassigned next year. He declined to comment.

Sharon Byrdsong, the division’s senior director of alternative options, will temporarily serve as the school’s leader.

Officials said they will focus this summer on finding a new leader, reassigning staff members and making adjustments to the instructional program. They also will continue to search for a new building.

Anthony Gontarz, who volunteers at Madison, told board members Wednesday that he’d prefer to see more school materials and other resources at the school.

“It would be great to have a face-lift on the outside,” he said, “but honestly, it’s just window-dressing.”

Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com