Katharhynn Heidelberg
Daily Press News Editor
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Norwood High School Principal Jim Hoffmann confirmed that contracts for teachers Lisa Doyle and Beth Costa might not be renewed by the Norwood School District R-2J Board May 16. Because of personnel privacy issues, he could not comment as to why the contracts aren't likely to be renewed.
But students and supporters in Norwood think they know why, and pointed to a controversy that erupted last year, after Doyle assigned Rudolfo Anaya's award-winning novel, "Bless Me, Ultima," to her English classes. School officials pulled the book, after a single parent complained about its language and "pagan" elements. The complaining party reportedly received all copies of "Bless Me, Ultima," and was said to have disposed of them.
The incident prompted a student sit-in protest at the school and put Norwood under national media scrutiny. The students were later honored by the Colorado Association of Libraries.
"I think it's because what happened last year upset the administration and brought a lot of negative media to them, and so they were angry," sophomore Sarah Setzer told the Daily Press. "They really don't have any reason. These are good teachers."
She also said that though school administrators had pledged to form a book-selection committee to review course material, little was accomplished. "None of the books were ever reviewed. The book ("Bless Me, Ultima") was never put back in school."
According to Setzer, Doyle and Costa were known for standing up for students and fellow teachers alike, and this had made them unpopular with the administration.
"Many of us feel the reasons they're being let go is because they're willing to speak out on behalf of students and other teachers instead of just taking it," Setzer said.
She was one of approximately 45 students who met Wednesday with Hoffmann individually, and with the acting superintendent in groups. "Overall, we said they were very good teachers and have helped the student body in a number of ways," she said. "We felt what they were doing was unfair and overall, wrong."
"There are two teachers we are in the process of not renewing contracts on," Hoffmann said. "The students came in to talk about those teachers. We listened to each of the students individually."
He said he could not discuss the conversations he had with the students.
Setzer said both the principal and acting superintendent listened, which "demands some respect," but that she found Hoffmann's refusal to answer questions frustrating. "All he would say is it was a matter between him and personnel. He repeated that many, many times to every student who spoke to him.
"I wanted to know the reasoning behind why they were being let go. I thought it was a very simple question. ... It affects the whole community. The youth here is pretty much the community's future."
Hoffmann, speaking of general policy, said the first three years a teacher works in the Norwood district are a probationary period. "At the end of any of those years, the administration has the right not to renew the contract," he said.
This would be the third year Doyle and Costa have taught in the schools. The final say on their contracts is up to the Norwood school board.
Several members of the public and three students plan to address the board at its 7 p.m. May 16 meeting. Students and other supporters also held an appreciation dinner for the teachers Wednesday night.
"It's very unfair," Setzer said of the pending dismissals. "It's infuriating. These are good teachers. They help us learn and to actually enjoy learning. They are people we trust.
"I hope they are offered their jobs again. The most we can hope for is that the teachers stay and the administration realizes the students have opinions and they need to be heard."
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