Controversy Among Teachers, Staff Regarding South Principal Diver

The president of the Grosse Pointe Teachers Association has been receiving inquiries from teachers and staff for two weeks regarding Principal Allan Diver, she said Saturday.

Talk swept through the Pointes late Friday about Diver being fired from the district, though district officials are not yet confirming it. A statement released late Friday to Patch in response to questions about Diver does not identify him but says a district investigation revealed that two employees were found to have seriously violated the terms of the technology-use policies. 

Inquiries from teachers and staff have been from Diver supporters and non-supporters, GPEA President Ranae Beyerlein said. They noticed Diver had been absent a great deal in the last two weeks and had not been responding to emails or phone calls as quickly as he is normally known for doing, she said. 

While there are some who are anxious to find a new principal for the school, many teachers and parents are distraught about the recent news, Beyerlein said. Many supporters were trying to get individuals to attend the school board's upcoming meeting Monday, May 23, to speak in support of Diver, she said.

"He's been a strong educational leader," Beyerlein said, explaining Diver's contributions behind school renovations and the recent addition of the swimming/workout facility. "On the other hand, others who don't hold him of such great value are looking forward to having a new principal."

Beyerlein questions why the district did not post notice on the district website concerning closed-door meetings she knows happened related to personnel matter. While the meetings were posted in the district's administrative offices, they were not posted on the website as has been standard procedure for some time, she said.

At least one meeting held April 27 is identified as a special meeting in the school board's agenda for Monday, May 23, and it's not listed on the district's website. According to the minutes of the special meeting on April 27, this is when the board met in closed session regarding the consideration of charges against an employee, who is not identified in the minutes. Meetings concerning specific personnel and contract negotiations are typically closed but the Public Meetings Act still requires notice to be given of the meetings. 

While technically the district is probably following the law by posting in the administrative offices, it's not following its own policy, which Beyerlein questions. 

At a minimum, some of the school board made it clear during its formal April meeting that there was consideration to not renew Diver's contract. Diver technically retired from the district a few years ago but was rehired under contract with Temporary School Services. 

By hiring him as a contract employee, the district saves about 20 percent in personnel costs on Diver because the district is not required to pay into the state public schools retirement fund as it is for direct school employees, district spokeswoman Rebecca Fannon previously told Patch. 

School board President John Steininger said Saturday he could not comment specifically about the unfolding district situation. He said he does not believe  and will not participate in any "sugarcoating" of district problems, noting the unfortunate nature of rumors abounding the Pointes. 

Regarding Diver's contract, Steininger said the district is entitled to renew or discharge for cause only. As a contracted employee, Diver is not eligible for discipline by district or the school board, he said.

Steininger also said the consideration to not renew a contract for him personally stems from the need to operate the district in a business format, where the long-term benefits must be considered. While there is certainly a short-term savings in contracting employees, there is a risk of losing talented district employees who have an expectation of promotion if contracted positions are not filled from within, he said. 

Contracted employees only save the district long-term if they are planning to stay with the district long term and the long-term financial planning of the district is important to maintaining its value for the entire community, not just parents, Steininger said.

"I'm analyzing from a business standpoint," Steininger said. 

Patch is awaiting response from the district related to a request for additional information. 

Attempts are also being made to contact Diver, who has been with the district since 2001 after decades of working in education around Michigan including Chippewa Valley and Dakota high schools.