BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY John Colson’s abrupt departure from Waimea Middle School this week has bewildered parents and school staff. ADVERTISING The reason Colson is no longer principal at the school was unclear Wednesday, although a state
BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY
John Colson’s abrupt departure from Waimea Middle School this week has bewildered parents and school staff.
The reason Colson is no longer principal at the school was unclear Wednesday, although a state senator said she believed the charter school’s governing board forced out the popular educator.
“He helps out so much,” parent Sean Marsh said Wednesday afternoon, a day after his sixth-grade daughter learned Colson was no longer principal of the public charter school. “Something is wrong.”
Marsh said students are confused about why their principal, who has been with the school four years, was no longer there.
Hookakoo Corporation, the school’s board, announced Colson’s departure in an open letter to parents, posted on the school’s website late Wednesday afternoon.
“Mr. Colson’s tenure brought much needed stability to the school and allowed for it to become a more integrated part of the Waimea community,” Hookakoo Executive Director Megan McCorriston said in the letter. “Please join us in wishing him the best in his future endeavors.”
The letter, dated Wednesday, said Colson “will be leaving his role” as principal and chief education and executive officer at the school. But parents said he was already gone by the time the notice was posted.
The letter did not say whether the decision to leave was Colson’s or Hookakoo’s.
Colson did not respond to a message left at his home Wednesday afternoon, nor did McCorriston respond to a message left at her office late Wednesday.
Sen. Malama Solomon, who had been contacted by a number of upset parents, said it would be unlike Colson to leave the school midyear. Solomon said Colson had been on a three-month contract that recently expired, and that he had been interviewing with other schools on Oahu, for personal reasons.
She said Hookakoo’s board dismissed Colson.
“To dismiss a principal whom the community respects, (midyear), I don’t think that’s appropriate,” she said.
Solomon contacted all of the Hookakoo board members asking them to reconsider their decision and reinstate Colson through the remainder of the school year.
A letter provided to West Hawaii Today said Hookakoo completed Colson’s annual review less than four weeks ago, giving the principal a 4.8 out of 5 rating.
“Seems like an ‘A’ to us — i.e., his performance was more than satisfactory — now this?” the letter said. “Further, Mr. Colson has been a progressive stabilizing influence working with teachers and staff, and our students are making significant academic progress in spite of huge financial constraints that required cutting 38+ positions.”
About 40 school faculty and staff members signed the letter, which was addressed to the Waimea Middle School community.
Other accomplishments included in the letter were Colson’s decision not to furlough students despite significant financial restrictions.
Staff members questioned the board’s ability to make such a move.
“This is not collaborative — was this action even legal without consulting with us?” the letter asked. “Further, how could they do this to our students in the middle of a school year — so disruptive and destructive? This is not putting kids first.”
The letter called for a community meeting in which all of the Hookakoo board members are in attendance.
McCorriston, in her letter, said the board is planning a parent and community meeting, for which a date has not yet been selected.
emiller@westhawaiitoday.com
