Lassen Union High School District staff and teachers wait for the board of trustees to come out of closed session during a special, Tuesday, March 29 meeting. After closed session, board president Skip Jones said the board unanimously voted to request interim superintendent Roy Casey rescind his resignation. His announcement was met with applause. Casey accepted the board’s request this morning, Wednesday, March 20. Photo by Ruth Ellis

March 20, 2013 — Late this morning, Wednesday, March 20, Lassen Union High School District Interim Superintendent Roy Casey told the board president he will rescind his verbal resignation.

The board had requested Casey rescind his decision during a special Tuesday, March 19 meeting when it met to discuss certificated administrators.

After the closed session, Jones reported, “The board has asked me to ask Casey to rescind his verbal resignation and to continue on with the current superintendent contract for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.”

Teachers and parents filled the room and Jones’ announcement was met with applause.

According to Jones, after the board’s March 12 meeting ended, Casey approached Jones and said he was resigning and giving his 30-day notice as he felt his philosophy and priority for student education and achievement was not shared by some of the board members and their personal agendas were getting in the way of the board’s purpose and goals.

Jones said he requested Casey not submit a letter until the board had a chance to meet. He said the board would discuss certificated administration and what it felt the role of administration should be and the direction it should go.  

Casey, an educational consultant, has assisted with staff development at both the high school and the Johnstonville School. His background is working as a cognitive coach and he mentors teachers, administrators and people in the Nevada State Department of Education, which helps him stay up-to-date with all federal initiatives.

The board approved entering into an interim superintendent contract with Casey in July, after former superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler gave his resignation in June. The board then approved a two-year contract in February.

In November and December, representatives from both the Lassen Teachers Association and the Classified School Employees’ Association both voiced the units’ support of the current administration structure, which also includes principal Robbin Pedrett and dean of students Charles Thatch.

The sentiment was the same during the recent special meeting.

Jim Ernaga, co-president of the Lassen Teacher’s Association, said, “I was asked today on behalf of the Lassen Teacher’s Association to make a statement to reiterate our wholehearted support of our current administration. We believe that the decisions they are making are in the best interest of our students and we’re behind them 100 percent. We actually had a vote, 35 members were able to vote. There was only one no vote to support our current administration today.”

Kathy Dickerson, president of the California said, “We once again want to reiterate that we are in full support of the current administration and would like to see it continue on.
Representatives from the Susanville Indian Rancheria and the high school’s administration have been working together to increase the graduation rate among Native American students.

Aaron Dixon, Sr., tribal secretary/treasurer also advocated for the current administration.

He said the administration has been working with the Rancheria to improve not only the infrastructure at the high school, but also to improve the education system for the children in the youth center and the preschool.

“Because they want to sit down with us and increase the reading, math science and everything else,” he said.

According to Dixon, any disruption of that nature is also going to interrupt the high school program, too.

            “I support this current administration that’s in process here right now, Mr. Casey and the principal and continue to work with them because they do care about our kids and this community,” he said.