The Linn-Mar shuffle, and an administration’s song and dance

In the golden cinematic version of our representative democracy, a group of plucky motivated folks can change the course of government decision-making. All they have to do is dramatically march into a fateful meeting of the decision-makers and deliver their compelling case.

Another victory for we the people. Cue the Sousa.

Truth is, it rarely happens. Most of the time, plucky motivated folks find out that there's not much they can do. Decisions have been made. Skids have been greased.

Best case, they get a good, detailed explanation that allows them to better see why an action is being taken. At least they've been fully informed, if not fully convinced.

Worst case, you get Monday night's Linn-Mar School Board meeting.

In the final days of the school year, the district announced it will be rotating three elementary school principals. Bowman Woods Principal John Zimmerman moves to Wilkins. Wilkins Principal Marilee McConnell goes to Indian Creek. Indian Creek Principal Tina Monroe moves to Bowman.

It was a jolt from the blue. My kid's principal, Indian Creek's Monroe, who has been at the school for 14 years, is no ordinary administrator. Her school's culture is a direct reflection of her own remarkable, contagious energy and enthusiasm. She deeply connects with kids. When I was 8, I doubt I would have sobbed upon hearing that my principal was leaving, like my daughter did.

Nobody's questioning whether the administration can do this. But parents and others who showed up Monday wanted to know more about why it was done. What are the educational objectives? How will this make these schools better? Why now? Some of these parents moved into these neighborhoods so their kids could go to excellent elementary schools. They're involved and invested in these schools. They also expect to be informed.

But instead of answers, they got a three-minute video. 'Change is Good. You Go First.” It ‘s a series of inspirational cartoons and quotes on the need for change, set to peppy guitar music. 'Forget for success,” 'remove barriers,” 'when patterns are broken, new worlds emerge,” the video says.

Platitudes and corporate retreat-speak flashed before our eyes. They'd look great hanging on an executive's office wall, beneath a soaring eagle.

But inspiration was not what I saw on the faces of assembled parents as they watched this unfold. Bewilderment, maybe. Insult, perhaps.

District staff then explained cultural change can be hard. And there are two kinds of change, first order and second order. Second order change is the hardest. 'The rotation of principles was a second-order change,” said Superintendent Katie Mullholland.

She argued that these decisions 'can't come with enough notice and rationale.”

Perhaps, but none is rarely enough. And none is what we got Monday. Questions were asked, but none were answered. We were told that change is hard and necessary, but not why hard change in this case is necessary, or how it improves anything. Embrace this, we were told, but don't expect to understand it.

Not shocking, I suppose. Not the first time I've seen good questions ducked and dodged. But it's disappointing to see a district that's earned so much loyalty from its community treat these parents like a barrier to get around instead of a partner that deserves a clear explanation.

Luckily, it will be up to these talented principals, teachers and staff to make this change work, not the dodgy bundlers of buzzwords.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com