Gilbert Public Schools (AZ) Governing Board meeting June 5, 2012, Agenda Item 7.04, Second Reading and Adoption, English Language Arts Textbook, Grades 6-9 (aka SpringBoard). This part shows board discussion and decision. Board President EJAnderson expressed concern that the teachers who spoke against the SpringBoard curriculum acknowledged they faced retaliation from the administration. We fear those teachers will be out of sight, out of mind when the retaliation begins. Assistant Superintendent Barb VeNard's obvious contempt for the ability of GPS teachers to comprehend curriculum issues placed on full display a top-down management style ruthlessly enforced by her staff. It was disappointing to see Campo Verde Principal Jared Ryan rush to the podium to assure the board that Barb VeNard's assurances of unanimous teacher approval was the "correct" version of events after he witnessed good teachers willingly committing career suicide in their concern for their students. The SpringBoard curriculum was adopted by a 3-2 vote, with Board President EJ Anderson and Board Member Staci Burk opposed.
