The evaluation of Superintendent Tom Jefferson (Press, June 17) turned out exactly as I had feared: the School Committee took it as an opportunity to resurrect the ethics issue and let it weigh down Jefferson’s positive accomplishments. The evaluation was supposed to be based on goals negotiated for this year. Yet the low marks on integrity were based on Jefferson’s action of five years ago. How is that a fair or valid evaluation?
In speaking of the Ethics Commission ruling, School Committee members bemoaned the “angst and mistrust to the community,” the way the process “dragged out” and “indelibly marred” the past year. But no new charges were brought forth; Jefferson did nothing to cause new mistrust. Certainly it has been the School Committee itself that has continued to dwell on the issue and keep the community from moving on. Rather than setting a positive example of accepting the state’s finding, taking appropriate action against Jefferson themselves, and then putting the issue behind them, they have allowed their own personal perceptions to continue to condemn Jefferson. How has this helped the schoolchildren and the greater community of Harvard?
I hope that when the School Committee members evaluate themselves at the end of the month, they will take an honest look at the extent to which they themselves have acted with integrity in all situations during this past year.
Carlene Phillips
Oak Hill Road
