Tensions Rise at Robbinsdale School Board Meeting

Tensions were high for the Robbinsdale Area School Board during a nearly six-hour marathon meeting last Tuesday. 

Robbinsdale Area School Board Chair ReNae Bowman and Board Member Helen Bassett — who previously served as board chair — feuded publicly during a discussion on the district’s operating referendum and capital projects levy. 

Mediation

The public disagreement comes as the governing body is heading towards third-party mediation to improve relations between board members. 

The Mediation Center of Minnesota will be providing those services.

A board committee met on Feb. 26 to continue designing the mediation process and timeline.

Tensions were high for the Robbinsdale Area School Board during a nearly six-hour marathon meeting last Tuesday.

Tense Discussion

The dispute started when Bowman was calling on board members to provide comments. Bassett said she felt she was being ignored, while Bowman told her to wait because she hadn’t been recognized to speak.

Below is a transcript of the following discussion:

Bassett: I’m not going to sit here and be disrespected and ignored. When I put my hand up everybody else gets to talk. I’m just not having it because I don’t behave that way. You know? And I’m just tired of it. You know? I’m tired of it. One person just gets to talk whenever they get ready to. At-will, on and on and on. Everybody else, you could raise your hand, and even have the nerve to put your hand up [and say] stop. That’s insulting. It’s insulting. You know, and I don’t think anybody, I’ve never experienced anybody acting like that, ever. Any chair. You know, a chair is not a czar. And let me just say what I had to say about this referendum …

Bowman: Ms. Helen

CROSSTALK

Bowman: Ms. Helen, we are in a work session …

Bassett: I am Director Bassett at this table. I am Director Bassett just like you’re Director Bowman.

CROSSTALK

Bowman: Director Bassett, this is not an agenda item. We are an agenda-driven board. And if you want to put some more information in on this …

CROSSTALK

Bassett: I raised my hand because I have input on the referendum. I have been through three. 

Bowman: Could we have some maturity here? I’m asking for maturity.

Bassett: Oh God please.

Bowman: I’m asking.

Bassett: I’m asking for the same thing. Not only am I asking for maturity, I’m asking for respect. I am not going to have you sit up here and put your hand up when I get ready to talk and then allow [Robbinsdale School Board] Director [John] Vento who …

[Bowman bangs the gavel]

Bassett: who happens to be …

Bowman: Please.

Bassett: Who happens to be the only man …

Bowman: That is not what’s going on.

Bassett: That is exactly what’s going on. Watch the tape where you scream …

Robbinsdale Schools Board Member Sharon Brooks: If you’ll take my question, I think I was next.

CROSSTALK

Brooks: I think I was next.

Bassett: I’m not having it anymore.

Brooks: Well go ahead and take mine because I do want to hear your question.

Bassett: I have as much input as anybody around here. And when I get ready to say something, we don’t want to hear about your experience. But director — who I’ve been here longer I might I add — Director Vento can talk about his experience and everything he says is golden. Now I don’t have any problem with Director Vento that I can’t talk to him directly about and we’ve done it before. And I can do it again if I have something to say. I don’t. You know? My conversation is for you [Bowman]. I’m tired of the behavior that you’ve been exhibiting. Of the favoritism and the sexism. Because when I hold my hand up and take my turn, I would like to have my turn. And then I would like not to be interrupted by Director Vento who interrupts anybody whenever he gets ready. And if I say anything, it’s ‘oh, well I was going to get to that.’ Well, it’s nonsense. It’s nonsense. And I’ve never had to experience this from anyone and I’m not going to take it from you because I don’t dish it out.

Bowman: Yes you do Helen. 

Bassett: No I don’t.

Brooks: Director Bassett and Chair Bowman, can we talk about it in mediation time?

Superintendent Search

The board is currently working with the Minnesota School Boards Association to identify a candidate for permanent superintendent. 

Former Superintendent David Engstrom and the district split ways last September.

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