Moms and dads Check with For SLVUSD to Examine Classroom Disturbance

When a group of San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School students gave their mom and dad the rundown of their day on Nov. 10, the tales appeared almost unbelievable: they explained the new San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Chris Schiermeyer, experienced entered their fourth-quality course, gotten flustered and yelled at them for acting up—bringing various college students to tears.

After conferring with each individual other, the parents located the facts of their children’s tales appeared to match.

At the school board conference on Nov. 17, various mom and dad spoke during the community remark period of time, to bring the condition to light-weight.

Adam Johnson, the varsity girls’ basketball mentor at San Lorenzo Valley Significant University, was fuming about what reportedly happened in his son’s course that day.

“I stand in this article in assistance of other dad and mom, as we—like our children—are baffled and hurt around what transpired at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary,” he explained, incorporating he was indignant to learn the superintendent had even eliminated his mask for the duration of the incident. “I am drastically let down to hear that Mr. Schiermeyer unsuccessful to correctly assess the scenario.”

Johnson said he’s hardly ever after felt compelled to respond so strongly in entrance of pupils that it brought them to tears.

“Positive reinforcement, even on most inconsequential behaviors, can provide limitless likely to pupils whether it is in the classroom, in a drama generation or in athletics,” Johnson reported. “Yet, past 7 days, Mr. Schiermeyer felt detrimental reinforcement was the appropriate decision.”

Two days after the dad and mom say the superintendent misplaced his interesting, he sent multiple unsolicited email messages to the mentor, like a single the place he apologized to Johnson’s son “if the incident brought about undue tension,” he informed trustees, quoting the concept.

He explained he would like the board to carry out a comprehensive investigation to hold Schiermeyer accountable.

A different dad or mum said students were singled out by Schiermeyer, such as two who have been “following protocol” by utilizing coping approaches, like doodling or going to the corner of the classroom to regain a perception of relaxed.

In an job interview with the Push Banner, Schiermeyer took duty for his actions.

He says he’d been walking the grounds of the school and popped in to look at on the course. When he noticed some of the learners weren’t pursuing their teacher’s route, he decided to take control.

“They weren’t behaving,” he stated. “At that moment I felt like I ought to intervene.”

A person mum or dad verified at least a single of the learners arrived to class late. Other people said college students have been intended to sit on a rug as element of an activity but weren’t obeying ideal absent.

Schiermeyer states he continued observing the classroom and still left of his individual accord and didn’t hear about the crying college students, right until later on on.

But a father or mother advised the Push Banner college students said the crying had previously started whilst Schiermeyer was still in the area.

Schiermeyer states he’s sorry for the way he responded.

“To be straightforward, this was a teachable minute for me as a new superintendent,” he reported. “I’ve acquired a ton from it.”

And, he states he’s supportive of new insurance policies for when guests stop by a classroom, which some of the parents ended up calling for.

“I have an understanding of where the mother and father are coming from,” he said. “I imagine it’s really good to take into account a protocol.”

None of the dad and mom who spoke at the conference reported they wished to see Schiermeyer get rid of his career due to the fact of the circumstance.

In interviews, moms and dads discussed they want to see the district just take action to show it is critical about building a secure university atmosphere.

Ongoing Court docket Situations

The incident comes just months just after previous trainer Michael Henderson was sentenced to home confinement for assaulting a college student for the duration of non-public tutoring classes, and right after one more previous teacher, Eric Kahl, agreed to resign when a college investigation uncovered he’d engaged in “predatory grooming” while employed.

Meanwhile, previous SLVUSD administrator Ned Hearn had a court day via Zoom on Nov. 16 in Solano County Exceptional Courtroom, wherever he’s a defendant in a little one sexual intercourse abuse lawsuit.

Natasha Langenfeld and Whitney Davis appeared on behalf of the protection, although Courtney Kiehl appeared for Melissa Chowning, who claims Hearn raped her whilst she attended Dixon Unified College District in the 1990s. Discovery is ongoing.

Schiermeyer clarified that, due to the fact Hearn is not accused of executing anything illegal although utilized at SLVUSD—and since of the provisions of his contract—when his administrative role finished, the connection with the district was not truly severed.

That indicates, even though he’s not now assigned to instruct any courses, Hearn’s technically still on the payroll as a instructor.

The two Hearn and science teacher William Winkler are on paid out administrative leave, as investigations into their carry out proceed.

Schiermeyer turned superintendent soon after Laurie Bruton resigned when the 2020-21 university 12 months ended.

At the Nov. 17 board assembly, President Gail Levine stated SLVUSD would talk about Schiermeyer’s behavior in a closed session.

“I want absolutely everyone who’s in attendance or listening to be assured that we don’t acquire nearly anything frivolously,” she stated. “We all make problems. That is why they put erasers on pencils.”

The SLVUSD will be wanting at methods to make certain this doesn’t occur all over again, Levine included.

“We need to have to all work together—the board—with Mr. Schiermeyer,” she reported, “so that we can go ahead and continue the weather in San Lorenzo Valley that we are all accustomed to.”