“See if our principal is willing to come back and complete the year and in June we go from there,” she said. “I think it’s a really reasonable request.”
CHELSEA JENSEN
WEST HAWAII TODAY
cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
Hookakoo Corporation on Thursday remained mum on Waimea Middle School Principal John Colson’s departure despite an outpouring of frustration and concern from parents, students and residents.
“John Colson resigned. We accepted his resignation and part of the separation agreement is neither of us can talk. We cannot comment on it,” said Hookakoo Board Chairman Keith Vieira opening a community meeting. “John Colson did nothing ethically, morally wrong. There was nothing like that at all, John Colson resigned. We cannot talk about that separation and I’m very, very sorry for that.”
Despite numerous questions, statements and concerns raised by attendees, the board declined to discuss the resignation further, but did apologize for the handling of the resignation. In attendance were chair Vieira, executive director Megan McCorriston, and members Ann Botticelli, Ray Soon, Guy Kaulukuki, Lydia Trinidad. Colson was not present.
Nonetheless, residents continued to urge the board to reconsider its decision noting the impact it has had on the public charter school, its staff and students, and all of Waimea.
“You must take this opportunity and make things right. You say John resigned, (but) we know John, he would never abandon his kids — never,” said Teri Kimura-Chong a Waimea resident and Hawaii Preparatory Academy teacher. “You can invite John Colson back, you can reinstate him and he would be back in a heart beat.
“Wise up. Let go of your pride and do what is right for the sake of these kids.”
More than 300 people, including dozens of students, turned out for the community meeting held at the school’s gym. The meeting had yet to conclude as of press time.
Also during the meeting, the board announced Lydia Trinidad, a Molokai charter school principal, will assume be principal at Waimea Middle while the board finds a permanent principal for the 2012-13 school year. Vieira also said Colson would return to the campus to speak with students but provided no tentative date.
When asked if the board can reverse its decision, Vieira had no answer other than the “board decided to accept his resignation.” Vieira also would not disclose when, where or what members of the board were involved with the resignation.
“Instead of a collaboration here we have a dictatorship,” said Claire Brouwer, a Waimea resident who has students at Waimea Middle School. … “If you don’t feel that you’re going to reverse this decision we will do everything we can to revoke your charter. But, first and foremost, we want our principal, John Colson, back and we will do everything we can to ensure that happens.”
Eighth grader Laakea Paio directly questioned the board members if anything is being hidden from the students.
“What are you hiding form us? That’s what the whole student body would like to know,” she asked. “We want answers. We don’t want excuses. We all think your lying, we all think your hiding something and that’s from all of us, so, do you have an answer?”
Vieira responded to the student, “I answered no, we are not.”
Subsequently, Waimea attorney Margaret Wille asked the board meet with Colson to make public the separation agreement to which Vieira said the board would talk with Colson. Both parties would have to agree to disclosure.
Sen. Malama Solomon, iterating the concerns raised by others, asked the board to at least bring back Colson through the end of the school year.
“See if our principal is willing to come back and complete the year and in June we go from there,” she said. “I think it’s a really reasonable request.”