The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

'Good riddance' to Superintendent Rowley

I was disappointed that your front-page piece about Stephen Rowley's firing criticizes the three people who took their jobs as trustees (for the public) seriously--Kathryn Ho, Avie Katz and Homer Tong. (Courier Sept. 13)

Apparently, you made no effort whatever to contact those three individuals to hear their side. Have you actually read Rowley's "suicide e-mail" to Polly Bove?

Clearly, instead of being content with an annual package worth more than $200,000 and working to deliver value for the district, Rowley spent his time trying to plot against the trustees.

It is also disappointing that you cite some vocal locals but make no effort to speak to the large majority of Asian and other immigrant parents whom Rowley has throughout treated with sneering condescension.

The district, students, parents and taxpayers deserve better public servants than the overpaid and faithless Rowley.

CT Pao

Cupertino

Stephen Rowley's firing was related in part to an email written by the superintendent, unintentionally emailed to the entire board, board president Avie Katz told a Courier reporter. In the email, Rowley indicated Katz and his wife, Cathy, a guidance counselor at Monta Vista High School, were to blame for the loss of a popular teacher who, eight years earlier, had accused their daughter of cheating--an allegation the school administration decided was unfounded. This school year, the teacher, Tim Krieger, applied for a position in the guidance counselor's office. He didn't get it. He and another teacher have now left the district. Several members of Cupertino's Asian community have written letters to the editor in support of these two teachers and asked for an investigation into the board's decision that Krieger not be given the position. --Editor