Although Matt Samuelson never supported a recall effort he shared the frustration many felt at the end of January when the search for a permanent superintendent was put on hold and an extension to the interim superintendent’s contract was being decided. Being Matt Samuelson’s aunt didn’t save Ann Samuelson from a public tongue lashing when he wrote a letter to the editor of a local paper expressing his concerns with the Jewell School Board’s decision to keep Gerald “Jerry” Jones on as Interim-Superintendent of the Jewell School District.
“The Jewell School Board continues to display behavior that leaves our community divided and distrustful of our elected officials.” Matt wrote, “The process of choosing the leader of our school has traditionally included community input. On Jan. 31, the decision was made on a three to one vote with one board member choosing not to attend the meeting. No indications were given that this action would take place. The written agenda for the meeting included a resolution and a timeline for an executive search. But, after delaying the meeting for 40 minutes, then dragging on for another two hours, the board revealed there would be no executive search.”
“Since I have written that letter,” the younger Samuelson explains, “the initial discontent many were feeling was resolved with public discussion. The Board opened up the topic again and allowed people to have their say and then explained their side of it. I don’t think it was understood how much still had to be done to bring Jewell up to state standards.” Samuelson further stated that many people in Jewell knew of the suspect accounting practices, but didn’t understand just how far out of compliance Jewell was.
Superintendent Jones confirmed that the district’s special education program failed to meet maintenance of effort for its IEBA program for the year 2004-05 and as a consequence has had to reimburse $22,000 to the state. Another grant in 2005-06 for $68,000 was given back to the state for lack of receipts to prove what the money had been used for. These two instances of fiscally unsound practices and school programs failing to meet state standards are just a few that Jones has come across.
Guaranteed Success
Samuelson shared that he had heard some teachers were dissatisfied when Interim-Superintendent Jones curtailed week long trips to the east coast under the Guaranteed Success Program. “I think Mr. Jones is in a supervisor role. Mr. Seeley participated in activities that an employee should not expect from an employer, so naturally Jones wouldn’t be as popular [as Seeley].”
Samuelson says that one of the bones of contention is the Guaranteed Success Program’s reward system. Some teachers are upset that the rewards have been downgraded since Jones has taken over. “Week long trips to Boston, New York and places like that were taking place twice a year. Once for a group of adults to go over for a week to scout out accommodations and activities and then again with a group of about 50 kids who had completed their homework on time for the year.” Matt explained, “The teachers that went would continue to get the regular salary, plus a stipend for being chaperones plus reimbursement checks for any out of pocket expenses.”
According to news reports from January 2007 John Seeley was reimbursed over $17,000 for these trips. The Guaranteed Success Program had different trips for different age groups with John Seeley usually taking the eastern trip and teachers rotating for trips around the Northwest or across the country. “In addition to the school paying for the trips the district also paid for substitute teachers to take over for the teachers that went as the chaperones,” Samuelson says, “and school board members would go on the trips, too, paid for by the school district. Oly Schockelt and Carrie Thompson both went on these trips. They would also get reimbursed for something without having to show receipts. You can see why Oly wants it to go back to the way it was under Seeley.”
“The people who are asking for it to go back to the way it used to be are doing it for a reason,” Samuelson asserted, “Many of them were receiving money that is no longer being offered. Lauren Jacobsen was getting paid for site consultation; she doesn’t have credentials for this that I know of. I wasn’t aware of the [past] Board approving her being hired or paid to do that type of work.”
Past Board members who served during the John Seeley years include Matt Samuelson, Carolyn Eady, Jeff Bellingham, Carrie Thompson, Teri Greenwood, Oly Schockelt, Clark Foster, Lauren Jacobsen, and Dave Samuelson among others. On the current Board Karl Meier and Ann Samuelson were the only ones to have experienced Seeley’s administration. Since 2007 they were joined by new board members Allen Foster, Tania Skinner and Cathy Rozinek.
Investigations Continue
Regardless of what criminal charges have been dropped against John and Laura Seeley in regards to child abuse allegations, or the outcome of the criminal investigation into Seeley’s alleged financial mis dealings, the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (OTSPC) may decide to pull both Seeleys licenses depending on their independent investigation into the matter.
Vickie Chamberlain, OTSPC Executive Director, confirmed that John and Laura Seeley’s case has been referred to the Commission. Chamberlain stated, “We cannot comment on the case because investigations are confidential under Oregon law.” However, those who have information can contact the investigator assigned to the case, Cameron Lane, through the Commissions office in Salem.
Phone calls have still not been returned to NCO staff to corroborate Schockelt’s claims in Monday’s story or counter Samuelson’s assertions.
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