A.G. Gancarski
In a lengthy statement released Wednesday night, Duval County School Board member Connie Hall did not address calls to resign over pejorative texts about Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Instead, she reinforced the criticisms made within, even as she apologized for one “offensive” reference.
These texts included a call to “fire him now” and a reference to Vitti, whose path to excellence included battling with dyslexia, as “Special Ed in action.”
“Over the past week, a series of text messages I exchanged last fall with a staff member have become the central focus of attention for this school district and for me as a Duval County School Board member. I regret that this has become such a great distraction,” Hall said, pointedly not regretting the substance of the texts.
Soon enough, Hall pivoted to one of her job functions: “leading the recruitment, selection and evaluation of our sole employee – the superintendent.”
Apparently, such evaluation measures include the texts that created a media firestorm earlier this week. Hall contends, however, that media firestorm distracts from the larger issue.
“As we face an onslaught of failing schools just released this past Friday, 21 Duval schools received an “F” grade; more than 50 percent of them (11) are located in my district,” Hall writes. “These poor outcomes fuel my continued frustration with the lack of leadership, respect, and collaboration exhibited by our Superintendent.
“While my text message comments were an expression intended for a single colleague, they do illustrate the level of frustration and increased concerns I have about the superintendent and the state of academic achievement for all students. I sincerely apologize that the reference I used to describe his deliberate acts of disrespect was offensive. That was not at all my intent nor does it reflect my commitment to and demonstrated support of services that help all students reach their full potential.”
Then, it reads as if Hall is doubling down on the “Special Ed in action” claim: “It is this same mission that Board members seek to create for the Superintendent.”
Hall then puts Vitti on blast: “There is no secret that I, as a Board member, recognize that the superintendent lacks the leadership skills exhibited by successful superintendents that lead successful districts. I have worked for and with 6 Duval County superintendents.”
Hall then adds that as “a first-time superintendent, just like any other first time CEO, there is a lot to learn about the work environment, communities and stakeholders, and efforts that build trust, teamwork and efficiency. In fact, as part of the Superintendent’s professional development plan, the Board hired a Coach several months ago to support him and strengthen his growth and development as a leader. Based on an egregious act of disrespect exhibited by the superintendent a few months ago, I and two other Board members issued a letter, addressing his inappropriate behavior. These are efforts that demonstrate an ongoing mission to help him succeed.”
Whether one believes these efforts “demonstrate an ongoing mission to help him succeed” or not is a matter of interpretation. Hall then pivots to attack Vitti by effectively saying that he’s not from here.
“Yet, what has he demonstrated? The colleagues I serve with on the Duval County School Board are Jacksonville natives – born, raised, educated, and employed in this city for decades. We each have a commitment to make our school district better. Our constituents elected us to do so, requiring us to hold Dr. Vitti and any superintendent accountable for the academic excellence of students,” Hall writes, adding that she looks “forward to learning more about how Superintendent Vitti will improve our schools in this latest round of poor academic outcomes.”
“My tough questions will continue,” Hall vows.
Whether this will ameliorate tensions or it’s just gasoline on a fire remains to be see. What is clear, however, is Hall’s profound skepticism about Vitti’s role as a self-described “change agent.”
