Editorial: Veil of silence over instructor's firing Menlo Park, posted by Editor, The Almanac Online, on Mar 13, 2013 at 11:21 am
The recent letter to "gymnastics families" from Menlo Park City Manager Alex McIntyre is another in a string of half-hearted efforts taken in the wake of the abrupt and unexplained dismissal of gymnastics instructor Michelle Sutton. The case led to an uproar among parents, who became even more upset when emails written to the council in support of Ms. Sutton were deleted from the city's website.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 12:00 AM
Posted by Seriously, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Mar 13, 2013 at 11:21 am
I agree that the city needs to address these questions, and soon. These are procedural concerns, so the city should not be able to hide behind the excuse of "confidential personnel matters." Can the Almanac shed any light on who within the city is actually responsible for communicating to the public regarding these concerns? Is there any precedent for informing the public on process issues that are related to personnel matters, without treading into "confidential" territory? There is still a lot of public interest in resolving the problems within the gymnastics program, but no one knows who is ultimately responsible for any of this mess.
Posted by N.D., a resident of the Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2013 at 6:29 pm
The Community deserves answers. Since the City Manager already stated that he was "satisfied" with the decision to fire Ms. Sutton. It would take a man with integrity to admit he was wrong and actually conduct a full investigation and make the necessary changes to the Community Services Department and put an end the hostile work environment.
Posted by Former Gymnast, a resident of another community, on Mar 15, 2013 at 8:53 am
As a former gymnast, I can tell you that good teachers are the crux of any quality program. They are the ones doing the heavy lifting and have the knowledge and skills required to motivate and also prevent injuries in the gym. While it's not necessary for Administrators to have a background in the sport, they should at least have an understanding and respect for work that the teachers do. This does not appear to be the case at the City of Menlo Park. Students thrive under a dedicated and experienced staff, not a staff that is being bullied and harassed.
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