By DON COBBI write in support of Morrie Pongratz’s request at Tuesday night’s (March 4) School Board meeting for some explanation by the Board of its reasons for not renewing Dr. Schmidt’s contract.
I recall that when Dr. Schmidt became District Superintendent five years ago, Los Alamos schools had major issues regarding funding and maintaining our schools. He immediately held open strategic planning sessions with input from teachers, students and the public to chart a course for our schools.
On his watch major recapitalization of the high school and middle school was successfully completed. The transition out of the Trinity Site was accomplished. The Los Alamos schools received state and national recognition for excellence. He dealt forthrightly and fairly with the complex issues posed by new state standards and teacher assessments.
In light of this, I was shocked to hear that Dr. Schmidt had decided to resign, apparently because he did not have the support of members of the Board. What could be the hidden, behind-closed-doors reasons that apparently few of us Los Alamos citizens outside the Board were even aware of?
