School board asks Superintendent to take time off
Investigation into allegations continues
Superintendent/Principal Jon Ray has been asked to “take additional days off until further notice,” Colfax Elementary School Board President Janelle LaBrecque announced Monday evening. The unanimous decision was made during a three-hour closed session meeting with Scot Yarnell, a Sacramento attorney retained by the board last week. Board member Brant Hoffman did not attend the meeting. Monday night's action followed an outpouring of anger and frustration by parents during the Oct. 12 school board meeting. Parents claimed Ray and seventh-grade teacher Michelle Heimann, the former school board president hired as a long-term substitute teacher last year, were engaged in “inappropriate behavior” during school hours. Yarnell was retained to investigate the allegations of misconduct, including excessive texting and cell phone calls between the two during the school day. Many asked the board to place the two on administrative leave in order to maintain a safe learning environment and prevent retaliation. While the board did not place them on administrative leave, they were told to refrain from cell phone use and texting during school as well as to avoid contact with anyone involved in the investigation. Heimann went into seclusion for most of the week, returning to the classroom on Monday. Ray was out of the office on Thursday and Friday. Before the board went into closed session Monday night, parents were given an opportunity to present additional information or concerns. Parent and business owner Bruce Nissen commended the board members for their quick response. “I want to commend the board for the fact that we’re here one week later and not one month later,” he said. “It shows your dedication and understanding that enough of us had legitimate concerns.” Tracy Hall echoed other parents’ concerns about the superintendent’s behavior on campus, expressing her frustration that Ray did not return numerous phone calls to discuss her son. “Our main focus is the way he has been handling the school funds and the things we have personally seen,” added Melanie Forseth. Another parent, Shelly Duarte, apologized to the teachers, saying the decision to pull her children out of the school was not a reflection on the quality of the education. “It was because I had a personal attack against me,” she said. “We’ve loved every teacher we’ve had. It was a personal decision to move my kids out. It wasn’t about any of the teachers. We’ve been very happy with the school until now.” District Secretary Terri Smith reported that the parents of five students had requested transfers following last week's meeting. Another closed session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the school library. “I have no comment until we figure out what is going on,” Ray said Tuesday.
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I hope there is more to this story, because from what I read, sounds like much ado about nothing!!
Young people draw their values from what authority figures in their lives. In my own life several teachers made both positive and negative roll modles for me. Let us all remember that teachers are after all only human and some slack must be allowed. "No comment until we figure out what is going on" is the correct statement, now let us wait until the facts are known. Sweet William
With all due respect to Bruce Nissen commending the board members for their quick response on this issue. There were public concerns voiced as far back as the April 14, 2009 Board Meeting. Item #2 Public input on Closed Session agenda - http://www.colfax.k12.ca.us/documents/April142009_000.pdf
This school board had better have something really solid to charge these employees with, otherwise they're in for a terrific lawsuit that could cost the district a lot of money.
Jon Ray could end up with an early retirement while laughing all the way to the bank.
I've got to believe this could have been handled without the parking-lot-parents-club taking over and turning it into a circus!
kma123, I can see why a punk like you won't use your real name. What a stupid, libelous thing to say about Mr. Hoffman.
Harsh kma123. I do not know Hoffman personally, but would not slander him in front of his family in this way. Yes, they are probably reading all of this.
From what I heard from Mr. Hoffman at the last board meeting, he doesn't like the time commitment, the pay, or the "fun" that being on the board provides. He stated "why don't you stick around for the fun, we are just getting started (at 9 p.m.), and the pay is great! WELL, Mr. Hoffman, please step down from the board, or DON'T run for re-election in 2010!!!! This is something you chose to do, don't act like it is such a bother. Some parents coach, volunteer in class, etc. Please take your volunteer job seriously. This person doesn't want to see you on the 2010 ballet.!!!!
This is Bogus, The School Board needs to hang it up along with the parents.
Were you there??? Hoffman stated what is written ABOVE with a huge attitude at the board meeting. A2theJ - obviously YOU WERE NOT THERE!!!! Great PC skills Hoffman has.
kma123....focusing your retaliation would be better served in finding peace with yourself. You seem to have a lot ot time on your hands and perhaps could use some meditation and soul searching and ask yourself why you are so involved in pointing fingers and not more involved in making positve changes in your life. If you dont' like something, then change it...but don't drag people through the mud along the way. Karma is a very real thing...I would think about your next post and tone it down. The principal's divorce is none of your business and you should not be so involved in Mr. Ray's personal matters. You're crossing some lines here...throwing stones is not an admirable thing if you're preaching about the importance of role models. Your comments in all of these posts are far from being a good example to the children and yes, I am sure they are reading these or hearing about it. Re-think your purpose....consider the consequences. Is this about school/education/students?....seems to me you're more hung up on affairs/gossip/slander. Your credibility is next to nothing......you can change that!
kma123: First off and foremost the personal relations of a principal and his personal life are no one business, the emails that you read, well you talk about Michelle Heimann and her "gossip hour" what on earth are doing reading the emails of a case that has nothing to do or pertain to this matter, then writing about it, perhaps you too like to have your gossip hour. And you say inappropriate materials in class? I swear parents now a days seems to wanna complain about things just to hear themselves complain.
Are you there with the children? Are you sitting in class? The kids get taught sex education in class by TEACHERS!!!!! So if she mentions something about boyfriends, what the heck is worse? Boyfriends, or sexual intercourse, man parentals need to pick and choose their battles, they are getting paid to do a job, if they txt, and are more social than what not, as long as they are still running things, who effin cares!
This is turning into the classic hush, hush by the friends and family members of the offenders...people in Colfax are angry and anyone who knows what has been going on has a right to be angry about how this relationship has affected the educational setting. People have a right to be angry that the principal whom when criticized punishes the concerned people by not responding to phone calls. People have a right to disagree with "gossip hour." People have a right to expect the teachers and principal to keep their personal lives away from school including their excessive social habits.
Talk about karma...this whole thing would not be happening if Mr. Ray and Mrs. Hiemann had not dished out bad karma to begin with. So, sbcinsac (I doubt that) and quickslver82, stop trying to shut down people...this time the Good Ole Boy network is not working.
There is an absolute lack of perspective being displayed by far to many individuals surrounding this issue. This is not a popularity contest for Jon Ray. This is a review of information brought to the Board of Trustee's that a group of individuals feels is both credible and actionable. The board is currently reviewing and attempting to discern the validity of this information. At this point, it would be very difficult to say that the information is completely baseless, as the Board has asked Mr. Ray to remain off campus as they continue their work. The board needs to be supported as it continues this work.
Disparaging remarks regarding a board member are only distracting, and have no useful place in this process. Save it for the election next year.
Having said this, I feel that a bit of redefinition is required by all parties. Jon Ray stated "I have no comment until we figure out what is going on". Jon, you are the only person who knows what is going on. He needs to be eliminated from the "we" statement. The Board of trustee's needs to make decisions regarding Mr. Ray without his counsel. I believe his input on this process, should be taken in open session, subject to the same scrutiny as the input of those who oppose him.
Thank you 17spike - finally some sanity! Two thumbs up.
Like I said "much ado about nothing." The AJ should remove kma123's post.
Well I don't have a dog in this fight but will pit om a thought or two. Many posters here want Mr. Ray to answer questions in a public setting I gather. Well a investigation so to speak in going on correct? Well then, not taking sides with Mr. Ray here, but have you all forgot about the rights given us under the Fifth Amendment? Mr. Ray has the right to remain silent and if I were him I would, considering how the rumors and slanderous statements are being made towards him and his private life.
Relax people and let the system work this out. Maybe Mr. Ray did some questionable acts while working, but then again a former president of ousr did a whole lot worse and he kept his job.
chase2you:
You say your not taking sides with Mr. Ray and then insinuate that "rumors and slanderous statements are being made towards him and his private life". Please be patient before judging information.
In terms of Mr. Ray's right to privacy, I absolutely concur with you. He has that right. However, that is not my issue. During last Monday evening's meeting, Mr. Ray attended the closed session portion of the Trustee's meeting where what short term actions were to be taken regarding Mr. Ray. I don't feel it equitable that if a citizen makes a statement regarding this issue, it must be done in public, whereas Mr. Ray may be afforded the opportunity to present his case in private, without the same scruitiny.
17pike, this story, unproven as can be has been dragged out in the open, names included. A ranking member of Placer County Law Enforcement put the lives and well being of those he swore to protect in jeopardy, was afforded professional courtesy by the dispatched Rocklin Police Officers, his guns were not removed from the premises, he has not been put on Paid Administrative Leave for an offense that could be a felony and according to reports in Channel 10 his neighbors are quite upset and shaken by this incident. Yet, the public has not heard a thing about this problem which now is 13 days old, not from a Placer County publication anyway. The school story is hearsay from children that have not read the messages, the Rocklin incident was reported via numerous calls to 911 by neighbors. One thing you can say about the A-J, at least in the Colfax Elementary story is that unlike the other story they are not trying to protect the "accused".
17spike: I was not talking about what transpired behind closed doors at the school. I was refering to the 'Lose' lips that are posting personal information on Mr. Ray and his family here on the AJ site. And thus has turned this whole story into a sloppy soap opera... and trash talking.
And any Governing Board of any Organization has rules that must be followed, so from time to time those issues are conducted behind Closed Doors... City Councils do it, our Board of Supervisors do it and so forth. If they do not abide by the rules or law then each Member can be subject to disiciplinary action, removal from the board or civil or crimimal charges. And I'll bet at this point no member of the Colfax School Board want this situation to get any deeper and their behinds on the line too.
An observation from someone with zero stake in this. No matter the facts of the case, the environment is disrupted, and I would expect adults to act like adults, and restore the education environment as quickly as possible. Those who hold high positions should resign (all of them), and hire the right people to restore trust. I don't really care who created the hostile environment. Once credibility is lost, there is no value to the institution to stay around. No matter the facts, you are responsible. You are paid the money to go with that responsibility. You failed. And everyone looses. Hanging around only prolongs the disruption, and does further damage. A non-public investigation can identify and redress, but it should be after the leadership changes.
I don't have a stake in this either. Don't know parties involved or know anyone who does. But as an observer, I am bothered
by the emotional, almost hysterical reaction over a matter which is clearly a personnel issue. It appears some want to publicly
humiliate, slander and now, timeslip calling for resignations of everyone who holds high positions.For Pete's sake people....relax.
The board is doing their job......let them.
concernedperson....there is no good ole boy network that I am suipporting and your assumption of my whereabouts are completely wrong. it is insane to me that you are called 'concernedperson' and you are just another person fueling a fire that is NOT YOUR BUSINESS. You called out 'offenders', really?? Offenders is a pretty strong term and one that aligns more closely with people who have commited a crime. There's no crime committed here and if there were, how come there aren't any arrests? Sure, be angry this has all happened the way it has, but really, the focus of concerned people should be to quit making this such a public thing so that the school and education can go on.
AJ, you should remove the option to post comments...this is getting ridiculous.
sbsinsac,
The option that the Auburn Journal gives everyone concerning comments is, you don't need to read them.
.I don't know whether or not Mr. Ray has been acting "inappropriately" with another teacher, I don't really care. I am happy to see him removed from his position for any reason. I pulled my kids from CES last school year after my son was attacked by four other students on a school field trip. He came home (early, suspended for fighting) WITH BRUISES ON HIS FACE, ARMS, CHEST, BACK AND LEGS. There were pictures taken of the attack, Mr. Ray was in possession of the camera. He deleted the pictures, destroying evidence, before the Sheriff could view them. He took the side of the other boys, denying my son an opportunity to speak and demanding that he apologize for something he never did. He attempted to force my son to admit to things he never did, in front of me. He refused to even look at the pictures of my sons injuries. He told me, in front of my 11 year-old son, that my son "is a messed up kid and needs to be seeing someone." Well, after several months of therapy the biggest issue my son had to face was the rage he felt at the injustice he experienced at the hands of Mr. Ray. I have never met anyone so arrogant in my life. I am happy to give further details to anyone who is interested....but suffice it to say that this man allows an atmosphere of bullying that persists to this day at CES, and it is in the best interests of everyone that he be removed.
Auntie__lay__lay--you are not alone in your views about how Mr. Ray treats people differently depending on his opinion of them. He is very unprofessional that way.
Thanks CP - sounds like you've had some experiences as well.