Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Loma Prieta teachers protest trustees' move

By Shari Kaplan

The Loma Prieta Joint Union School District is abuzz over trustees' decision last month to extend C.T. English Middle School principal Art Bubb's contract for another two years.

Following this decision at the Board of Trustees' March 13 meeting, Loma Prieta teacher and union representative Susan Jacobs read aloud a letter signed by 24 of the district's nearly 40 teachers in opposition to renewing Bubb's contract.

The letter detailed complaints some teachers had been harboring for months regarding Bubb, including that he was verbally abusive, ineffective in creating good working relationships, undermined the authority of teachers and bred mistrust.

Some district parents spoke up to agree with the teachers' concerns.

Jacobs said that as union representative she had collected the complaints and brought them to the attention of Superintendent Lee Tinder and the board to work through the proper internal channels, not to create a public stir.

However, when she perceived the suggestions to remove Bubb were not well-received, she said, she resolved to read the letter in public.

"Because they renewed the contract and haven't addressed our concerns, it's become an issue," Jacobs said. "We feel like we're not getting any support."

Backers of Bubb's departure have also sent letters to residents.

"This is a small community and an issue like this affects everybody. We're concerned because it ultimately affects the good of the district and the children," Jacobs said.

Tinder will also be sending out letters to residents, explaining the district's side of the issue and clarifying some points of contention.

Tinder said Bubb is taking an unfair amount of heat because he came new to the district last summer, instituted changes in the district's math program and has ideas about workplace relations that may differ from those of previous principals.

"He may have taken back some of the authority that the staff had inherited over the years," Tinder said.

Bubb said he believes in holding people personally accountable for their actions, which, he said, may make some uncomfortable. But, he added, he takes his leadership role seriously and has many positive ideas.

"This whole thing centers around change and a different administrator," Bubb said.

"We need to work together in a unified way which will help the children. My bottom line is that I'm here for the kids."

Added Tinder: "There's no perfect employee, but I find the overall quality of his work very satisfactory. I support Mr. Bubb in his efforts to accommodate a very demanding job." Tinder.

Tinder also said that, of the 24 teachers who signed Jacobs' letter, many did not work directly with Bubb. He added the district has received an equal number of letters and phone calls from residents who support Bubb as principal.

C.T. English teacher Patti Lucas said she supports her principal and believes Bubb is not being allowed to administrate the way he sees fit. She understands her coworkers have concerns, but said she believes they should be addressed on an individual basis, without finger-pointing or accusations.

"We need to model to our students how to work through difficult times in a constructive way," Lucas said.