February 26, 2008- Response to EmpowerParents.org

Greetings _____________,

I want to take a minute to address some of the questions that have come up recently regarding the superintendent search and other issues related to board issues and policies.

First I want to address the request for my resignation at the February 13 board meeting. I must admit that the irony is not lost on the fact that the person who I unseated it now currently asking for my resignation. I feel that to comply with this request would be unfair to the position of those voters who agreed with the philosophies that I proposed for the advancement of our D-49 school's. At this point I have felt my actions are wholly in keeping with the trust and responsibility placed with me by the voters of this great school district.

As to decisions related to the hiring of the search firm currently utilized by the district these are decisions that were made prior to my coming to the board and were made without objection from any of the then seated board members at the time of entering into the agreement.

Next I would like to address concerns with the superintendent search. This is a process that is coming at a very poignant time within our district and must be made with consideration of the past while looking forward to the future. Our school district has transformed from a once rural setting, to become the fourth fastest-growing school district in the nation. We sit at the cusp of becoming the most accomplished school district in the region, if not the nation. It will not just happen, it will be a strategic decision made as we hire this new superintendent. This individual will be a leader recognizing the strengths that currently exist within our district and implementing a vision to help us achieve the next level of superior accomplishment.

In closing, it is my belief that D-49 is positioned to promote excellence among all of our students at a time when our competitiveness among global players is most challenged. In my interactions with the current board members, I feel that I can safely state that student excellence is the top priority of the decisions that we make and the goals that we hope to accomplish.

Thank you,

Kent Clawson

D-49 Board of Education