ST. ALBANS, Vt. -
In the past 24 hours, things have heated up at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans.
One of the teachers contacted us here, and asked us to investigate a story that's been brewing between the staff.
You asked, so they sent me up North. I learned some pretty shocking news.
The Bellows Free Academy School Board met tonight to discuss its superintendent's future.
This after several powerfully worded emails were exchanged between the Union President and the Superintendent.
Now teachers say, they don't want Bob Rosane to be their leader anymore.
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Not students, but drama filled the halls at the Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans Tuesday, all over a vision to transform the school's teaching and learning style; it's a new initiative called "Academy 21" that would give students more say.
"Academy 21 is a big giant leap, it's a paradigm shift," History teacher and BFA Education Association President Justin Bedell said.
The only problem, the teachers say Superintendent Bob Rosane never gave any specifics about how to run the pilot program.
"It's not a matter of being opposed to change at all, we're not, it's how it's being implemented and will be implemented that's of most concern," Bedell said.
Rosane wouldn't go on camera Tuesday, but sent me an email saying he isn't supportive of the status quo.
He said, "the students are not being served... and that the association is being resistant as teachers think they are entitled to professional development before they can be required to be proficient. Imagine a surgeon saying you didn't train me, therefore you can't hold me accountable for my patients who died. Our kids are dying."
A lack of communication has perhaps led to over communicating, the Superintendent and the Union President exchanged several emails Monday, the President says they are now have an unprofessional tone.
"Very negative, egregious, insulting, just an unfair way to communicate with an employee," Bedell said.
I asked him to read me a portion.
"Get on board, or get out of the way."
This poor communication led to faculty taking a vote of no confidence in its Superintendent Tuesday.
"I'm absolutely shocked."
Jacqueline Bostwick has a Senior at BFA.
"I'm really concerned as how this is going to affect her, the rest of the year, what's gonna happen?"
Both the Superintendent and the Union President assured me that students won't feel this tension.
In the email from Superintendent Rosane, he said the community should have no confidence that the teachers are proficient, and that he will happily resign, but wants the union to assess its performance first.
