Nov. 25, 2012: Marple firing roundly panned
Editor:
It is with great disappointment that I write in regard to the abrupt firing of Dr. Jorea Marple by the state Board of Education. Dr. Marple embodies integrity and professionalism and is one of the greatest assets to public education in West Virginia. She works tirelessly on behalf of students and educators. And for this, she has been fired. She was recently given a good evaluation, a raise and accolades by board members. These are not actions normally seen prior to a board summarily firing an employee for no reason. The timing of this immediately following the election is also revealing. It certainly sends a message to stakeholders of public education and it is not a good one.
Whether or not one is a supporter of Dr. Marple's is not the only issue with this debacle. The unethical process the state board chose to employ to get rid of her and to replace her is unacceptable and improper. The omission of this from the agenda, as required by law, ensured no public input which would have, apparently, been a hindrance to the clandestine agenda of the majority faction of the board. The board has a legal obligation to follow the law whether or not it suits their purpose. This certainly casts a dark cloud over the state board and one that will be hard to overcome. It is this type of action that severs public trust and certainly does nothing to advance the stated goals of the board.
Board members Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips have chosen not to endorse this conduct. I applaud them for this, but hope they will remain on the board. Their character and knowledge are needed. Being a former employee of the state Department of Education, I know that, until now, board members served with integrity and honesty, even when their opinions differed from their constituents'. For that, they were respected - even in times of disagreement.
The current board members responsible for these actions would benefit from serving the public interest rather than their apparent personal or political ones. Board members should be examples of what is right and good with education, not what is wrong and bad with politics.
Susan Lattimer Adkins
Huntington
Editor:
I was astonished and appalled when I read of the firing of state Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jorea Marple. I have followed Dr. Marple's career for over 25 years and know her to be an outstanding educator. She has a deep understanding of the educational process and of teachers, administrators and, more important, of children. She has succeeded at every level.
What is particularly outrageous is the manner in which the state Board of Education terminated Dr. Marple. The subject was not on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting but was added during the meeting - clearly an inappropriate action. The board then went into secret session and five of the seven members voted to terminate her, giving her no cause. Obviously this egregious action had been planned ahead by the Manchin appointees who seem to have little or no knowledge of how to conduct fair meetings or how to give Dr. Marple advance warning so that she could be prepared to defend herself.
The conduct of the five Manchin appointees showed either their total lack of knowledge, their desire for control or their ineptitude. They clearly have a hidden agenda apparently driven by politics. Events are fast-moving in this case. As suspected, a replacement Manchin candidate was standing in the wings. Members who voted to terminate Dr. Marple expressed a desire in changing direction - two steps backward toward mediocrity. Cronyism and nepotism are alive and thriving in West Virginia.
Only two board members, Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips, supported Dr. Marple. I applaud their actions in refusing to submit to this charade. They are the only honorable members of the board, and I admire their integrity and their support of a fine educator.
Finally, I totally agree with the Gazette's position regarding the presence of Gayle Manchin on the board. I believe she is the person to be removed. Where does the law stand on that?
Phyllis A. Graham
Charleston
Editor:
Shame! Shame! Shame!
The way the state Board of Education fired Dr. Jorea Marple was arrogant, rude, crass, mean-spirited, cowardly, undeserved and probably illegal. Dr. Marple had strong support from the education community, receiving widespread praise. The abrupt and cavalier manner in which Dr. Marple was sacked smacks of political cronyism, having nothing to do with the quality of her performance. What a way to treat someone who has devoted her life to the educational system of West Virginia! If the board wanted to get rid of her for legitimate reasons, why didn't they do it in an open, forthright manner, explaining the specific reasons for its decision?
Board President Wade Linger's justification, as reported in the Charleston Daily Mail, that we "need real change in education ... some new reforms ... new leadership with a new attitude and forward thinking," is so unspecific as to be meaningless. It is something you might hear from a politician who doesn't want to be pinned down. Indeed, such amorphous generalizations are further evidence that the board did not have a legitimate reason for firing Dr. Marple and that the real reason was a naked power play. Moreover, everything I have heard and read about Dr. Marple indicated that she was providing new leadership and forward thinking.
The decision by a cabal of board members is not only a disservice to Dr. Marple, it is a disservice to the children, teachers and administrators of our education system.
Carter Zerbe
Charleston
Editor:
The recent action by the state Board of Education to fire Dr. Jorea Marple after giving her a satisfactory job performance evaluation and a raise in July is more a reflection of the state board than it is of the work that Dr. Marple performed.
What it reflects is not good. This appointed body chose to make a decision that was not part of its meeting agenda and to do it behind closed doors. Then, with no warning to Dr. Marple, just informed her that she was fired. Who behaves like this? This was not a situation where anyone was accusing Dr. Marple of wrongdoing. There was no sense that the department or county school systems would be endangered with her continued employment. In other words, there was no sense of urgency.
Granted, the Board of Education has the right to choose the superintendent. But does it make sense that they wouldn't give her enough respect to let her know in advance that they wanted to move in a different direction and that she should not expect her contract to be renewed?
No, they chose to go behind her back and fire a person who has devoted her entire career to improving results for students in West Virginia. They treated her like dirt! And Board President Wade Linger says there is nothing political. Amazing how this board thinks West Virginians are stupid! Darrell McGraw loses his election and the next week his wife is fired from her job. Please, Mr. Linger, do not underestimate our understanding of what goes on in this state.
The actions of the board reflect only on the members and the officeholders who appointed them, not Dr. Marple. Aside from Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips, the rest have acted in a way that brings to question their ethics as well as showing them to be ruthless and despicable as representatives of the state. They have proved that they are willing to go beyond what is common decency to heed the beck and call of the Manchin machine. I only hope that one day karma will come calling.
Elizabeth Scott
Winfield
Editor:
It is with great disappointment that I write in regard to the abrupt firing of Dr. Jorea Marple by the state Board of Education. Dr. Marple embodies integrity and professionalism and is one of the greatest assets to public education in West Virginia. She works tirelessly on behalf of students and educators. And for this, she has been fired. She was recently given a good evaluation, a raise and accolades by board members. These are not actions normally seen prior to a board summarily firing an employee for no reason. The timing of this immediately following the election is also revealing. It certainly sends a message to stakeholders of public education and it is not a good one.
Whether or not one is a supporter of Dr. Marple's is not the only issue with this debacle. The unethical process the state board chose to employ to get rid of her and to replace her is unacceptable and improper. The omission of this from the agenda, as required by law, ensured no public input which would have, apparently, been a hindrance to the clandestine agenda of the majority faction of the board. The board has a legal obligation to follow the law whether or not it suits their purpose. This certainly casts a dark cloud over the state board and one that will be hard to overcome. It is this type of action that severs public trust and certainly does nothing to advance the stated goals of the board.
Board members Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips have chosen not to endorse this conduct. I applaud them for this, but hope they will remain on the board. Their character and knowledge are needed. Being a former employee of the state Department of Education, I know that, until now, board members served with integrity and honesty, even when their opinions differed from their constituents'. For that, they were respected - even in times of disagreement.
The current board members responsible for these actions would benefit from serving the public interest rather than their apparent personal or political ones. Board members should be examples of what is right and good with education, not what is wrong and bad with politics.
Susan Lattimer Adkins
Huntington
Editor:
I was astonished and appalled when I read of the firing of state Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jorea Marple. I have followed Dr. Marple's career for over 25 years and know her to be an outstanding educator. She has a deep understanding of the educational process and of teachers, administrators and, more important, of children. She has succeeded at every level.
What is particularly outrageous is the manner in which the state Board of Education terminated Dr. Marple. The subject was not on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting but was added during the meeting - clearly an inappropriate action. The board then went into secret session and five of the seven members voted to terminate her, giving her no cause. Obviously this egregious action had been planned ahead by the Manchin appointees who seem to have little or no knowledge of how to conduct fair meetings or how to give Dr. Marple advance warning so that she could be prepared to defend herself.
The conduct of the five Manchin appointees showed either their total lack of knowledge, their desire for control or their ineptitude. They clearly have a hidden agenda apparently driven by politics. Events are fast-moving in this case. As suspected, a replacement Manchin candidate was standing in the wings. Members who voted to terminate Dr. Marple expressed a desire in changing direction - two steps backward toward mediocrity. Cronyism and nepotism are alive and thriving in West Virginia.
Only two board members, Priscilla Haden and Jenny Phillips, supported Dr. Marple. I applaud their actions in refusing to submit to this charade. They are the only honorable members of the board, and I admire their integrity and their support of a fine educator.
Finally, I totally agree with the Gazette's position regarding the presence of Gayle Manchin on the board. I believe she is the person to be removed. Where does the law stand on that?
Phyllis A. Graham
Charleston
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