250 Repeat Demand for Changes at Top at Newport-Mesa

A growing chorus of discontent confronted the Newport-Mesa school board Tuesday night, as nearly 250 parents and teachers packed the auditorium to repeat their call for a leadership change.

“As taxpayers and parents of the children, we feel it is counterproductive and inappropriate for the board to be non-communicative and confrontational toward us,” said Dan Vinke, a father of two who represented an informal coalition of about two dozen parents.

“We elected you to serve us and oversee the adminstration, not to serve the adminstration and ignore us,” Vinke said.

Galvanized by the arrest last month of Stephen A. Wagner, the school district’s top financial officer, for allegedly embezzling at least $3 million, parents and teachers who have been furious for months about crowded classrooms and a shortage of supplies called for the ouster of the district’s three top administrators, Supt. John W. Nicoll (who is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery), Deputy Supt. Carol A. Berg and Assistant Supt. Thomas A. Godley.

“Our group believes that alleged acts by Stephen Wagner are not the problem with this district but only the most painful symptom of the real problem, the management practices of Nicoll, Berg and Godley,” said Mary Fewel of Costa Mesa, who asked for a motion to immediately suspend the three administrators.

Wagner, 40, was fired from the district Nov. 10 and arrested on charges of grand theft two weeks later for what authorities suspect may be the largest school district embezzlement in California history. He remains imprisoned in Orange County jail in lieu of $1.2-million bail.

Despite protests from the audience, the board voted unanimously to approve Berg’s appointment as acting superintendent.

But Forrest Werner, who stepped down as president of the board during the meeting, announced that Berg would not be a candidate for the superintendent’s seat if Nicoll retires and would not serve as interim superintendent during the search for a new leader.

Incoming board President James deBoom asked the sometimes hostile audience to give the board three to five months to implement changes in district management.

“We have problems and we need to deal with them in order to win back the trust of this community in public education,” deBoom said. “We will listen and work closely to those who have positive ideas.”

Some parents, however, said that if the board fails to make major personnel changes, they would consider a class-action lawsuit against the board or a recall campaign.

Also Tuesday, teachers union president Maya Decker planned to announce the employees’ overwhelming vote of no confidence in Nicoll, Berg and Godley. Nearly 88% of the district’s 765 teachers, nurses, psychologists and librarians voted at the 25 school sites last week, with 95.9% of the ballots cast expressing no confidence.

In a speech she expected to deliver to the board late Tuesday night, Decker, whose union claims about 450 members, said: “This crisis in confidence is not founded in a single, high-profile issue, but more in the concern that has been building over the years as one action after another taken by those in upper management left them feeling less than ignored.”

“I urge you to use the brains and talents of your employees as decision-makers on key issues,” Decker said. “Don’t just view them as order-takers to be treated like disobedient children whenever a different opinion is expressed.”

About 150 parents attended the last Newport-Mesa board meeting two weeks ago, presenting a petition with 400 names urging Nicoll’s firing.