Mat-Su schools: Now, children …

Frontiersman editorial board

Last week in the Mat-Su schools there was name calling between cliques, nasty notes filled with rumor and innuendo passed around, finger pointing and puffing of chests. But enough about the administration, the school board and the union --let's not upset the kids.

The ongoing saga of "She did mean stuff without our permission" and "I only did it for their own good," continued when Assistant Superintendent Don Chicarell did the honorable thing and threw himself on his sword, announcing he'll retire on June 30, the same day his boss, Superintendent Pat Chesbro, will step down. In keeping with the emotional nature of the entire, sordid episode, Chicarell didn't want to be alone when he performed professional seppuku, though. He sent his letter of resignation, electronically, to all principals and staff in the district. The honor had to stop somewhere …

Of course, those on the "She did mean stuff …" team couldn't take that standing up. Parents and students in the district have come to expect administrators, union members and the board to look muddy and cheapened after every chapter, and nobody wants to be the first to disappoint. Wasilla High School Assistant Principal Mark Okeson decided to step down to the mud pit. He fired off his own electronic tantrum in response to Chicarell's bombastic resignation. The response was also sent to "all school members." In Okeson's reply, he challenged Chicarell to a public debate of the now completely incomprehensible saga. You know, "Meet me by the bike rack, after school."

Chicarell's letter accused union and board members of creating or harboring dissonance in the district for political gain … what dissonance? Okeson accused the administration of waging an "indefensible war against Colony High." It's anybody's guess as to whether a war is being waged at this point -- especially since the commander in chief and her field general have surrendered. However, let's not forget that it is what was going on behind closed doors at Colony that is indefensible. Maybe that's not Okeson's fault; maybe it's not the administration's fault. The offending teachers were dealt with, and everyone else walked away essentially unscathed -- everyone except the students, of course. In some districts, simple transfers for administrators in a case like this would be considered lenient.

The bottom line is, the fight's over. It's time for everybody to stop stomping their feet and holding their breath and start pretending to be adults again -- someone other than the students, that is.