Upset over a myriad of issues, Shorewood parents ask school board not to renew superintendent's contract



SHOREWOOD (WITI) -- Shorewood parents showed up to the Shorewood School Board meeting on Tuesday evening, February 10th to express concerns over the district's superintendent -- with some calling for his job.

Parents and teachers flooded the Shorewood School District's School Board meeting Tuesday evening -- some telling the superintendent to his face that they want him gone.

"Our administrators are not being held accountable -- and David, you asked what we would like the outcome to be. And I will be so blunt as to say -- a resignation," one parent said.

They brought up issues like bullying, class sizes and issues with the curriculum. These parents and teachers say there has been a lack of communication by the relatively new administration.

Superintendent Marty Lexmond has been with the district since 2012.  A group of more than 100 people have signed a petition asking that the Shorewood School Board not renew his contract, and that of Director of Instruction Tabia Nicholas. Their contracts were to expire in April.

A school district spokesperson says that is not happening.  She says the Superintendent's contract was renewed for another year, earlier this month.

School board members say they are listening to concerns and are looking at issues raised in the petition. They let community members voice their frustrations on Tuesday night.

"We've begun to realize that the underlying causes of all of these tribulations are poor leadership, poor communication, the inability to connect with and understand teachers and staff. I am just stating what we feel," a parent said.

Lexmond and Nicholas say they have made changes and continue to listen to members of the community.

"It's really in clarifying concerns and laying out a plan to address what may be inaccurate or misinformation and laying out a plan where we may have further community dialogue is really what helps us move forward," Lexmond said.

The Shorewood School District's leaders say they are moving forward and changes take time.  As the meeting dragged into hours, school administration and the school board bounced ideas around about how to address issues.

That made at least one parent proud of the teamwork saying "you don't see this in other districts".

District leaders hope to take ideas from the discussion Tuesday night and make Tuesday night's meeting a constructive one.

This, as some parents say they're looking forward to an upcoming school board election.