Odyssey Charter School union lambasts school board with a vote of no confidence
Odyssey Charter School's new union is asking four board members to resign amid concerns that a Greek fraternal group has been making its own, backdoor decisions about the school's future without any input from teachers or parents.
Historically, five of the board's nine members have belonged to the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, or AHEPA, giving that organization's "brothers" a majority vote on decisions about the school's budget and administration.
Recently, a move to give more power to the school board's four non-Greek members — and ostensibly to the general public — was overturned, prompting at least one board member to resign in protest and the teacher's union to issue a vote of no confidence in the remaining AHEPA-aligned board members.
"We respectfully ask for the resignation of Board President Josiah Wolcott, Treasurer George Hantzandreou, Michael Kirifides and Michael Klezaras," says a letter from the union.
"While this vote may not have resulted in a favorable outcome for certain board members, it is certainly a significant component of the ancient Greek political and philosophical term 'democracy.'"
Click here to read the full email at the bottom of this page.
The missive cites a lack of transparency at Odyssey and the board's failure to put in place policies that would prevent AHEPA from having undue influence over the school, which receives taxpayer dollars.
About 76 percent of the union's 117 educators weighed in on the vote of no confidence, with 92 percent in favor of it.
Wolcott, Hantzandreou, Kirifides and Klezaras, the four longest-serving AHEPA members on the board, sent an email to teachers and staff asking them to ignore misinformation about recent school board meetings.
"To be clear, any claim regarding 'unethical and illegal practices' is meritless and categorically denied," the email said. "Unfortunately, there appears to be elements within the Odyssey community that want to divide rather than unite."
Click here to read the full email at the bottom of this page.
The Delaware Department of Education confirmed Monday that the dispute has reached its offices.
"We have received complaints, and as is typical if we receive a complaint, the Charter School Office staff is speaking with those who lodged the complaints as well as reaching out to the school administration and board of directors," DOE spokeswoman Alison May said in an email.
New bylaw overturned
A new bylaw approved in November would have required a two-vote supermajority on all decisions that financially benefitted AHEPA or its members. Instead, it created even more controversy at Odyssey.
Wolcott, the board's president and AHEPA member, overturned the new bylaw in December, claiming the vote was "out of order" because it wasn't put in writing 30 days in advance, as the rules dictate.
In fact, the bylaw was put in writing, but amended before the vote to make sure it included a supermajority.
The change was necessary after Wolcott, who was chosen as board president by AHEPA, announced he would be departing from tradition and voting on all new agenda items.
In the past, he only voted if there was a tie.
When Wolcott overturned the new bylaw, Superior Court Judge Abigail LeGrow, the board's vice president, resigned.
"In my view, adopting a two-vote supermajority bylaw was required to avoid the appearance of self-dealing and to promote public confidence," she said at the December board meeting, before getting up and leaving to loud applause from teachers and staff.
George Moutsatsos, the fifth AHEPA member on the board, has also resigned. He did so behind closed doors, before the December board meeting.
It is unknown what reasons he gave.
Giving voice to the non-Greek
AHEPA helped open the school in 2006, loaning it an initial $60,000. But faculty and parents feel like it's time for a shift, to give more of a voice to the non-Greek.
"We love what AHEPA has done for the school, but it's time to give a voice to teachers and parents," said Jennifer Ballas, a former board member and parent of four.
The Greek program was the biggest reason another parent, Ryan Connell, found Odyssey so appealing for his son, but now he's concerned about AHEPA's influence.
"I am just against one particular group having control on all things," Connell said. "At the end of the day, we are a public school that accepts public funds and is held to public laws."
The Greek-themed Greenville school has 1,662 students in K-12 this year, making it one of the largest charter schools in the state.
Judge LeGrow declined to comment on her sudden and public resignation. Parents and teachers are worried about the vacant position in coming meetings.
Ballas and Connell said there has been no discussion on filling the position.
"I would like to see the parent’s seat filled soon before they make big decisions," Connell said. "Instead of picking someone they think is going to go along with them."
Tensions rise
The board has had a contentious year, as AHEPA has been pitted against both parents and the school's teachers.
The controversy started when the board hired two new administrators — Head of School Denise Parks and Campus Operations Officer Riccardo Stoeckicht — at $150,000 each, without advertising the openings or consulting with Odyssey's many stakeholders.
Then, rumors began to circulate that the board wanted to hire former board president Dimitrios Dandolos, a member of AHEPA, for a third six-figure leadership position.
TENSIONS AT ODYSSEY
Odyssey Charter parents, teachers want answers toboard's secret leadershipdecisions
Video: Odyssey parents say 'Don't hire another administrator'
Odyssey delays vote to hire former board director with six-figure salary
Parents and staff, who have donated thousands of dollars to the school, questioned the need for even two well-paid administrators, much less a third.
Wolcott and other board members said the school is growing and needs to focus on fundraising and building partnerships with outside organizations. The other two newly hired administrators do not have that among their strengths or responsibilities, board members said.
The supermajority bylaw would have prevented the five AHEPA members from hiring Dandolos without at least two non-AHEPA members' approval.
After Wolcott overturned the rule in December, he told board members he wanted to immediately start advertising and interviewing candidates for a full-time administrator's position.
The job description, which is now posted online, includes many of the qualifications AHEPA board members praised Dandolos for having.
The school is advertising two consultant positions, as well, and may not ultimately hire a full-time administrator.
When board member Tami Soltow, who is also a high school science teacher at Odyssey, asked where the money for the new administrative position would come from, AHEPA board members revealed that $100,000 had already been set aside.
That came despite complaints that the school's teachers are not receiving competitive wages and a $2 million fundraising campaign to make upgrades at Barley Mill Plaza, the large office complex that used to be owned by DuPont and is now the school's home.
The revelation about the $100,000 — which Soltow had no knowledge of despite her being on the board — led her to help organize the vote of no confidence.
“It was a lightning rod with teachers and staff,” Soltow said. “This is not something we take lightly. This is something that has been happening for months."
Parents are similarly frustrated.
“If they continue to be obstinate, they should resign," Connell said of board members. “I like so many things at Odyssey, but the lack of communication really bothers me.”
Parents will get a chance to weigh in on the board's recent decision Tuesday, according to the school's website. Odyssey is holding a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. to discuss "current topics of concern and interest."
The board's next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her @jopeterson93. Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.
Read the union's full letter to the board
Dear President Wolcott and OCS Board of Directors,
This correspondence is being sent to you to ensure transparency and respectful communication in advance of the January Board meeting. The following information represents the collective voice of the voting members of the Odyssey Charter School Education Association.
As a result of certain distrust in certain board members, continued lack of transparency, the failure to put in place practices that would prevent improprieties or the appearance of improprieties concerning hiring an AHEPAN or financially benefitting AHEPA-affiliated projects, the Point of Order and resulting recall of the 3/4 super majority bylaw amendment, the restructuring to a dual-headed leadership model after stating restructuring would not occur, the proposal of a possible 3-headed model, an inadequate and questionable hiring process, limiting the opportunity for public comment, lack of thorough consideration of opposing points of view, and the inability to communicate a clear vision for future growth and success of our school, 70% of the voting members of the OCSEA offer a collective “Vote of No Confidence."
Complete results are as follows: 89/117 (76%) of members voted, 82/89 (92%) Voted in Support of No Confidence, 7/89 (8%) voted to abstain. While this vote may not have resulted in a favorable outcome for certain board members, it is certainly a significant component of the ancient Greek political and philosophical term “democracy”.
As a result, we respectfully ask for the resignation of Board President Josiah Wolcott, Treasurer George Hantzandreou, Michael Kirifides, and Michael Klezaras. This is not because of any dislike or bias against a certain group or individual, rather it is for the love of our school, community, and ultimately, our students.
We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about this vote and ensure our collective voices are heard.
Signed,
The Voting Members of the Odyssey Charter School Education Association
Read the full email from the four AHEPA members
Dear, parents, teachers, and other community members,
After multiple one-sided articles and blog posts, and with the spread of inaccuracies and rumor on social media, the four longest-serving AHEPAn members of the current Odyssey Charter School Board wish to respond. We do not intend to engage in a letter-writing campaign, but can no longer remain silent as misinformation runs rampant. To be clear, any claim regarding “unethical and illegal practices” is meritless and categorically denied.
AHEPA stands for the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. Since AHEPA founded Odyssey in 2004, and opened the school in 2006, its members have volunteered their time and effort and given their money to build and sustain the school. It started with the initial $60,000 that the local AHEPA Chapter loaned to Odyssey to fund its start-up – a loan that the local AHEPA Chapter forgave in 2012. From the start, AHEPAns developed and implemented the school’s mission and vision through the Greek-language program, which is the basis of our multi-cultural and multi-lingual Global Educational Campus, that continues to grow.
In addition, the local chapter sponsored and has continued to manage the annual 5K race that has generated roughly over $100,000 for Odyssey over the past ten years. Then, in 2014, members of AHEPA were the driving force behind obtaining the bond financing that allows the school to occupy its sprawling Barley Mill campus, despite a variety of obstacles created by multiple people, some of whom continue to spread misinformation over social media and elsewhere. Other individual AHEPAns have played significant roles in the vast majority of the development and fundraising efforts for Odyssey, which have raised more than $2,000,000 from multiple sources. And, now, as Odyssey positions itself to gain the support of the National body of AHEPA, the school is poised to become an elite charter school not only in the state, but in the nation. If it were not for the solid partnership between Odyssey and AHEPA, the school would not be in the strong position it is in today and it’s future would not be as bright.
When AHEPA founded the school, it made a pledge to the Department of Education to provide an environment for the students to develop a lifelong love of learning, to acquire a keen awareness of world citizenship, and foster an ability to think independently and creatively. In return, neither AHEPA nor its members have asked for anything. Instead, AHEPA’s sole interest remains what is best for the school and its students, some of whom are the children and grandchildren of AHEPAns. Odyssey has many critical needs as it progresses on its journey to become a full K-12 school. From academic facilities to extra-curricular amenities to everyday school supplies and technology, AHEPA is committed to secure what Odyssey needs as we continue to grow. AHEPA welcomes the help of every stakeholder committed to a constructive discourse of ideas to achieve the success of the school. It cannot be done alone. Odyssey is one of the largest schools in Delaware – it needs everyone to participate meaningfully and positively.
One of AHEPA’s main doctrines is to promote brotherhood and sisterhood. We are all of the same family – the Odyssey family. We should all be working towards one common goal: the success of the students. Unfortunately, there appear to be elements within the Odyssey community that want to divide rather than unite. AHEPA remains committed to unity and will continue to strive for this ideal. Any attempts to cultivate division within our school could cause irreparable harm to Odyssey and negatively impact our students and the future of our school.
Finally, we, as AHEPAns, welcome thoughtful, accurate, and civil debate concerning issues affecting the school. As it has since forming Odyssey, AHEPA will continue to act in the best interests of the students and the school. Our children deserve no less.
Thank you,
Josiah Wolcott, George Hantzandreou, Michael Kirifides, Michael Klezaras, Jr.