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Ripley Teachers Vote ‘No Confidence’ In Leadership

RIPLEY — The union representing teachers with the Ripley School District announced a vote of “no confidence” in school leadership, citing hostility, favoritism and fear within the district.

The Ripley Education Association recently sent a formal letter to the Ripley Board of Education expressing its concern “regarding the leadership at Ripley Central School.” The letter — obtained by The Post-Journal — was written by Jeff Keppel, New York State United Teachers labor relations specialist, on behalf of the union and came after a vote by the education association Dec. 12.

“The culture of our school has become one of hostility, favoritism, fear and anxiety,” the letter says, later adding. “The results of this vote emphasized this hostile work environment with the clear majority in support of the vote of no confidence.”

In addition, the education association in its letter asked that the school district consider the no confidence vote before contracts of school leaders are renewed at the end of the school year.

“Our concerns include: communication, trust, collaboration, decision making, vision and the lack of respect and bullying of staff,” the letter to the school board reads. “We also believe that leadership has failed to abide by the vision statement that “Every day, Every child, Every minute counts!” through their lack of presence in the building, professionalism and rash emotional decisions.”

Robert Bentley, Ripley school board president, said the board would not be able to comment on the education association’s letter until members had a chance to review it. A meeting of the school board scheduled for this week was canceled; a special meeting will take place next Thursday.

“We have to look at the background information we were given by (the teachers) and discuss it as a whole board,” Bentley told The Post-Journal on Friday.

District Superintendent Lauren Ormsby could not be reached for comment.

Along with the letter, Bentley said the education association sent a packet and emails related to its concerns within the district. Bentley said he was “aware of some complaints” by teachers in Ripley, but noted that they were “customary and usual with the difference between union and administrative leadership.”

Though not mentioned specially in the letter, several Ripley teachers attended November’s school board meeting to support Lisa Sabella, a Ripley teacher placed on paid administrative leave. Sabella was charged by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for endangering the welfare of a child for making “inappropriate contact” with a student.

Several teachers at the November school board meeting wore pins that said “Support Teachers” and “Support Sabella.” No specific information regarding the incident with Sabella and the student has been made public by the district or Sheriff’s Office.

Bentley said the Ripley Education Association probably wouldn’t say publicly that the incident with Sabella was the catalyst for submitting the letter to the board, but he believes it is related.

“I think the union will take the position that it’s not (related),” he said. “I take the position that it’s certainly coincidental if it isn’t retaliatory towards the issue that was there. And if it isn’t it sure seems like it is.”

Furthermore, Bentley said he was disappointed the letter was released to the press prior to the board being able to discuss it as a group. “I’m very disappointed in that,” he said.

The union said the district in the past had been one where “decisions were made on a collaborative basis with the best interest of our students in mind. … We love our students, our school, and serving the board and the community.”

Bentley was hopeful that the two sides would come together and solve the situation in a peaceful manner.

“Obviously, we’re looking for an environment that promotes education and is good for kids,” he said. “There’s two sides to this story I’m sure and there’s two sides to the issues, and the board of education will get down to it (and) we’ll find out what’s up. We’ll work on solving it.”

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