Bellevue School Board: "Disappointed" by Teachers' No Confidence of Superintendent

The Bellevue School Board issued a statement in support of Superintendent Amalia Cudeiro Friday night, adding that the board members were "disappointed" in the .

The school board also added that they hoped to find a way to improve the relationship between the superintendent and the teachers' union.

"We will be discussing additional ways all of us, the Board, District staff, the Superintendent, and teachers can forge new and stronger relationships to accomplish the work of preparing all children in Bellevue for college, career and life,” the board's statement said in part.

The teachers' vote of no confidence came last Aug. 31, , which was signed and ratified just before the start of the school year.

A voicemail message left with Bellevue Education Association president Michel Miller after business hours on Friday was not returned. This story on Bellevue Patch will be updated with any new developments.

Miller said last week the vote was directed at Cudeiro's continued involvement in Targeted Leadership Consulting, a firm that specializes in school-leadership training. Cudeiro, hired by the district in 2009, is a senior partner and co-founder of the company and continues to be listed on its website.

Miller cited a 2010 interview of Cudeiro by the Seattle Times, in which Cudeiro was quoted as saying she would make reforms in Bellevue before returning to her consulting firm.

"We want someone who is invested in Bellevue and invested in Bellevue for the long term," Miller said.

She also said that when the teachers went on strike after contract negotiations several years ago, the teachers did not hold a vote of no-confidence against then acting superintendent, former finance director Karen Clark.

Miller said that no-confidence vote against Cudeiro passed 97 percent. How many teachers weighed in on the no-confidence vote was not reported by the Bellevue Education Association.

Bellevue School District Statement

September 9, 2011

The following is a statement of the Board of Directors of the Bellevue School District:

“We were disappointed in the recent no-confidence vote by members of the Bellevue Education Association (BEA).  As directors of the Bellevue School Board, we strongly support the work that has been done as a District over the past two years.  We have confidence in Superintendent Cudeiro, as we do in all of the District teachers, administrators and classified staff to accomplish our goals on behalf of all children.  The new teacher’s contract involves a number of important changes we asked Dr. Cudeiro and the District bargaining team to achieve on behalf of all students.  Teachers, School Board, District staff and the Superintendent remain unified by a common bond:  we all care passionately about children and their education.   This contract provides new opportunities for the Superintendent, teachers, District staff, and administrators to work collaboratively in areas such as teacher evaluation, leadership programs, and other initiatives. We will be discussing additional ways all of us, the Board, District staff, the Superintendent, and teachers can forge new and stronger relationships to accomplish the work of preparing all children in Bellevue for college, career and life.”

Bellevue School District Board of Directors

 

Chris Marks, President

Christine Chew

Betsy Johnson

Paul Mills

Michael Murphy