Parents, staff protest Danville Primary School principal's shift to teacher at school board meeting
May 7—DANVILLE — Several community members pleaded with Danville Area School Board members and district administrators to reconsider the transfer of Megan Geise from Primary School principal to elementary teacher.
A voluntary transfer was listed on the agenda for Tuesday's board meeting indicating Geise's last day as principal would be June 8.
Parents who made public comment at the meeting alleged Geise was told she needed to step down or receive a negative review at the end of the year.
The board approved Geise's transfer in a 5-4 vote with school directors Wayne Brookhart, Dr. Samuel Faulkner, Kerry Hoffman, Robert Umbriac and Dr. Sandy Green voting yes and Tyler Garman, Derl Reichard, Derl Reichard, Jr. and Richard Vognetz voting no.
Courtney Traynor, president of the primary school's Home and School Association, alleged Geise's transfer was not voluntary.
"It is basically public knowledge that Megan did not make this decision on her own and was told to sign the paperwork stating she would do the volunteer transfer or she would receive negative marks," Traynor said.
Traynor said she sent letters to the school on Geise's behalf.
"The school has succeeded this year under Megan," Traynor said. "Megan is an asset to the school as principal and I want everybody to take that into consideration."
Amanda Beach, parent of a second grade student and an incoming kindergartener, said Geise was "phenomenal" with younger students, including those with behavioral concerns.
"Throughout the community, it is understood it was a forced signature," Beach said.
School Board President Sandy Green said the board was satisfied with the evidence presented to them that Geise's transfer was voluntary.
Green said both board members and school administrators are limited in what they are allowed to say regarding personnel matters.
"I appreciate what the public is saying, but there are simply facts here about what we are allowed to say and not allowed to say," Green said.
Savannah Carmichael, kindergarten through second grade music teacher at the Danville Primary School, questioned the board on several fronts regarding the changes taking place within the district.
"I'm here to ask our board members to ask the questions 'why?'" Carmichael said. "Why is our beloved principal resigning to spend more time with her family? ... Our principal, Megan Geise, has led us with grace, kindness and compassion this year."
Carmichael recognized her position as both a district employee and Danville resident. "I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't concerned about the consequences of me sharing my concerns tonight," she said, adding that she felt she had the responsibility to do so for the sake of the community.
Prior to the board's vote on Geise's transfer, Green thanked her for her service to the district, including as primary school principal for the past year.
"She is a quality human being and a quality teacher which I think is represented by the amount of people who came out tonight," Green said.
Geise declined to comment on the situation Tuesday night.
