Sweeney reinstated

Well the MCAS school board did the unthinkable and reinstanted Sweeney. I guess all of the crap they have up on the wall that they call a mission statement is just that, crap. Only in Michigan City can this happen.

MCAS assistant superintendent now on medical leave


He might have been back to work today but Gene Sweeney has broken his ankle and is awaiting surgery.

Without discussion, the board of the Michigan City Area Schools on Tuesday approved a personnel recommendation agreeing to change the assistant superintendent's employment status from paid administrative leave to suspension without pay, retroactive to May 9 and ending June 10. The board approved the matter unanimously. Board member Adrienne Gottlieb introduced the motion.

School Superintendent Michael Harding said Sweeney was placed on medical leave on Monday and will return to work when he is well enough.

On May 4, Sweeney angered teachers when he accused educators and the Michigan City Education Association of creating roadblocks to academic progress.

In a discussion about whether he would move his family into the Michigan City Area Schools district, Sweeney said he would not trust his children to some teachers he has met.

Teachers reacted swiftly and demanded his termination.

On May 5, Sweeney was placed on administrative leave.

"We fully intend to look into the situation thoroughly," Carla Iacona, assistant superintendent for personnel and labor relations, said on that day.

Sweeney issued an apology that same day - an apology sent to every teacher via e-mail. He also asked for it to be published in The News-Dispatch.

Phyllis Stark, now president of the Michigan City Education Association, said at that time an apology was not enough, "whether it's written or verbal or even if he buys a billboard."

Mary Junglas, director of UniServ, the business agent for the Indiana State Teacher's Association, understood the anger of the teachers, who walked with picket signs at a May 10 school board meeting.

Nevertheless, she said, "We can't demand what (the board) can't legally give." She said Sweeney is entitled to due process.

The board had met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter last Thursday. Although he would not say whether the meeting was about Sweeney, board president Jim Kintzele said Thursday the board likely would have some news about Sweeney's status at Tuesday's meeting.

Harding said the administration and the board "looked at many considerations. The final determination was made by the administration, following due process."

After the board meeting, Kintzele also spoke to the due process issues. According to Indiana law, he said, Sweeney's remarks did not rise to the level of an offense for which he could be discharged.

If a board does not intend to renew an administrator's contract, that administrator must be notified in December, he said.

"(Sweeney's) contract does not expire until June 30, 2006," Kintzele noted. The board would have been required to pay Sweeney's salary until that time even if Sweeney were to be relieved of his responsibilities. "We didn't want to pay him for doing nothing," Kintzele added.

"I also want to make it clear that the board is responsible for hiring only one employee, and that's the superintendent," he said. "The superintendent is responsible for everyone else."

Harding said he would be considering the "next steps" in the process of Sweeney's reintegration into the school corporation when he comes back to work.

For now, at least while Sweeney remains on medical leave, he will be in "his present position," Harding said.

Stark would not discuss how the union might react to the decision about bringing Sweeney back to the central office.

In reaction to Sweeney's statements in May, the union engaged in a work-to-rule job action. During that time, teachers worked only to the letter of the contract requirement and no more.

Sweeney was not available for comment on Tuesday.

Asked how Sweeney had broken his ankle, whether it might have been related to an athletic pursuit or perhaps his running regimen, Harding smiled and gave a guess.

"He was probably acting like he's 15 when he's really 45."