Mohawk School Principal Speaks Out on Superintendent Collins

Recently there has been growing attention to the Salmon River Central School Superintendent Jane Collins. Ms. Collins's contract will conclude on June 27, 2014.

St. Regis Mohawk School Principal, Sharlee Thomas discussed her concerns regarding the St. Regis Mohawk School. Ms. Thomas stated she was denied access to the full Mohawk School budget in 2011 with no warning. "I had access to the complete budget of the Mohawk School when I began my tenure as the Mohawk School Principal but was denied in 2011 without any notification." Ms. Thomas stated she contacted the New York State Education Department of Native American Education to inquire about the change and the Director had no knowledge of the change and was not contacted.

Ms. Thomas stated she contacted Ms. Collins the day she learned she was denied access to the budget, "It took over a month to schedule a meeting with Ms. Collins to discuss my denied access to the St. Regis Mohawk School budget." Ms. Thomas stated she was never given a reason for her removal from the budget and it has not been restored.

Ms. Thomas said, "The position of the St. Regis Mohawk School Principal is unique. It is my responsibility to ensure the monies allocated to the St. Regis Mohawk School are used appropriately and for the students attending the St. Regis Mohawk School. I need to have working knowledge and access to the complete budget in order to discuss issues or concerns the community may have with the operation of the school. Under Collins's leadership, I no longer have the access to do so. As a community member of Akwesasne, I understand the importance of open, honest, transparent communication between families and the school."

In September 2014, the Salmon River Administrators Association (SRAA) used FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) to request the legal fees for the period for Superintendent Collins's tenure. Since Ms. Thomas has been denied access to the complete Mohawk School budget, legal fees for the Mohawk School have more than doubled from $22,175 in the 2010-2011school year to $57,892 in the 2011-2012 school year. In fact, the Salmon River Central School district has spent over $1.3 million in legal fees during Ms. Collins tenure as Superintendent.

Ms. Thomas reports that she is frustrated. She states, "The administrators have tried to address concerns with both Collins and the Board of Education. We have attended every board meeting since our request to meet with them in August and they have not asked us into executive session." As of today, the administrators have not been asked to meet with the Salmon River Board of Education in executive session.

On October 6th, Ms. Thomas attended the Mohawk Education Committee meeting to voice her concerns regarding the Mohawk School budget and other issues regarding the superintendent's actions. Ms. Collins was in attendance at the meeting. Prior to addressing the committee, Ms. Thomas respectfully requested all non-Native people to leave the meeting. "Reaching out to the Mohawk Education Committee felt like the next logical step, since having been denied access to the Board of Education," stated Thomas. Two days later, unofficial meeting minutes were forwarded to Ms. Collins. "I feel like I've followed the appropriate chain of command to resolve these issues. Despite my efforts, nothing has changed. The administrators and I feel like it is time for a new superintendent," stated Ms. Thomas.

The next Salmon River Board of Education meeting will be held at Salmon River on November 3, 2014 at 6:00 pm where Jane Collins's contract is reportedly being discussed.

Native American staff at the St. Regis Mohawk School also released the following statement:

The Native American staff at the St. Regis Mohawk School are disappointed with the refusal of Superintendent Collins and Salmon River Central Board of Education members to discuss and address the important issues regarding the education of our children.

We fully support our principal, Ms. Thomas, and the other administrators of the Salmon River district in their efforts to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. It is our expectation that the Salmon River Board of Education members do what is best for the children of Akwesasne and immediately begin a search for a new superintendent.