Rick Jones is the one with the problem.  The school board should let him go.  He is the major reason the past 2 BE bonds have not passed nor will they while he is superintendent.  The school board has been very much in his back pocket (extending his contract etc....) Mr. Jones has outlived his welcome by about 5 yrs.

Thanks Homey! Rick Jones hasn’t offered anything positive to the district in over 5 years, he should have been out of here years ago.  Burlington will never reach it’s potential until he’s gone, it’s the students that suffer.

Personnel issues are often complicated and private, which makes it difficult to get the whole story, even though Kate Martin is trying.  But the fact that this has become a story is a story in and of itself.  For the school board and superintendent to put their energies into removing/moving the high school principal (Principal of the Year for Washington State) reinforces my impression that the leadership of the district does not seem up to the challenges they are facing.  Without knowing the particulars, it appears to be a poorly executed, symptomatic solution, like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic.  There are much bigger fish to fry, but unfortunately the superintendent/school board either does not know what the bigger issues are or how to address them.

Jones lost bonds (because the community hates him) and only passed a levy due to 4024 passing.  The community voted against the schools of their children to show up the guy.  Now he is trying to get rid of a popular leader because she is better than him.  He is probably looking to replace her with a young guy that will be a “yes man” and send the district to the stone age.  It is enough that the district runs the archaic k-8 (what is this a community school house on Little House on the Prairie?). But that is another subject.  Jones needs to be investigated for everything in his past in regards to his dealing with the district.  He is hurting children and the teachers that educate them… Lets have an election and see who gets more votes in regards to confidence...Jones or VanderVeen.

“hurting children and the teachers that educate them”—that’s what happens in a community that uses a levy or bond vote to send a message about their frustration with a component of the school district.

So we keep kids in cramped portables or leaky classrooms just so we can “send a message”?! 

Who really loses (hint: the superintendent still gets his/her check)?

Voting no was because of the kids. $$ has been wasted “looking into” redesigning building plans/or to demolish buildings (depending on who Jones is trying to convince), over spending/staffing at the district office, but taking away security at the high school, and $$ for retreats/trips.  Jones has chosen to listen ONLY to himself and NOT the TEACHERS who support OUR KIDS, he does not hesitate to separate wonderful “teacher teams”, move staff & make decisions with out any research or discussion with those involved.  Now he wants to remove a principle who has accomplished so much. Get real, we know what you are up to! YES, It is time for a change, but not with those who have so much invested in our schools, our teachers and principals. Ask yourself, does Jones have an investment?

The Superintendent before Jones wasn’t any better.

Irt, at least he had a spine and would not lie right to your face only to have to change his story later.  Rick Jones is the worst thing that has happened to BE school dist.

Vanderveen is way more beneficial to B-E than Dr. Jones ever will be.

vanderveen is one of the worst PEOPLE i have ever met. she was a horrible principal and should leave. i do not understand how you think Rick Jones is a bad person, he is much better than Vanderveen. I hope she leaves the county. My kids will never go to that school as long as she is still there. I had many run-ins with her and she did nothing beneficial.

The only reason she won Principal of the Year is because she was on the board that voted. She voted for herself. She should not have won. She did nothing for B-EHS and never will. Any principal deserves that over her.

I can echo behsgrad’s sentiments.  I have had many conversations, no run-ins, with her.  She has never shown me a positive attitude or a get-it-done attitude.  She SEEMS oblivious to problems, obstinate to change, and has role-modeled a defensive attitude for her staff. In my humble opinion, BEHS teachers are backing her because she has allowed them to be slackers.  They’re nervous that they will one day have a principal who expects them to do their job diligently.

I would have to agree with behsgrad and kim. As a alumni of burlington and having her as a principal I would say she is horrible. She doesn’t interact with the students except if you are varsity sports and have well-known parents. I don’t know how many games I went to and saw her walk right past the student seating not saying a word to any students. I was not planning on having my kids go to school at BEHS if she was principal, but it would make me happy to see her leave. I think if it would have been students voting for Washington’s best principal she would not have won. I think kim is right about the teachers a lot of them are just like VanderVeen.

I find it difficult to take you seriously behsgrad. From your comments it seems that you are nothing more than a trouble-making teenager, as it is only logical that delinquents would have problems and “run-ins” with authority. In my “run-ins” with Mrs. VanderVeen she has been nothing but a great asset to my education. She has offered me priceless advice regarding which major to pursue as well as researching different careers I could choose with each major. As for getting principle of the year, it takes more than one vote my friend! Obviously she’s doing something right to be considered the best in the state! Not only was she principal of the year but she has also served as president of the National Principals Association in Washington D.C. If that doesn’t make one worthy, what will?

I never once was in her office becuase of trouble. I never did any trouble-making. It was her attitude around campus and how she treated her students. If you only knew what she was really like then you may change your mind. But i dont even care anymore what happens to her. I hope she leaves but whatever happens will happen.

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