SRMS Elementary Principal to be Transferred to High School

A forum was held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the St. Regis Mohawk School to discuss the transfer of St. Regis Mohawk School Principal Sharlee Thomas to the Salmon River High School scheduled to be effective on July 1, 2016. This transfer comes amid several controversial decisions made by Superintendent Stanley Harper and the SRC School Board, claimed many who attended the forum.

Principal Thomas is certified by the State of New York, Department of Education as a teacher in elementary education. She is also certified as a School Administrator (principal). Thomas was tenured as an elementary school teacher by SRCS in August of 2003. She was also tenured by SRCS as an Assistant Principal in 2008. When Thomas was appointed the position of principal of the St. Regis Mohawk School, she was subjected to an interview process, a process of which she believes no other SRCS school administrator has had to experience. In fact, in her interview process, three committees interviewed her; a Staff Committee, the Mohawk Education Committee and the Parent/Community Committee. Each committee met with Thomas for 45 minutes, this process was inaugurated with Thomas, and to her knowledge has never repeated itself with any other SRCS administrator hired in-house. In 2010, she had to go through a process of being tenured and was tenured in July 2011.

Principal Thomas has been denied access to the St. Regis Mohawk School’s budget since 2015, despite having operated the elementary school for several years with no problems. Thomas was never officially informed of not having access to the budget, nor was she at any time told why she cannot access the school budget. When Indian Time asked Thomas if she considers this a sexist and/or racist move, she believed it is both. She was also asked how the present Superintendent, who has no prior experience as a superintendent can make such administrative transfer without School Board knowledge. Thomas replied that we would have to ask Superintendent Harper. In fact many questions were deferred to Harper, who was not present at the forum.

Indian Time made two calls to Superintendent Harper. He did not reply to either call, and at press time, he did not reply to an email sent on June 1, 2016 as well.

Principal Thomas has initiated several programs at the St. Regis Mohawk School that attribute to the 95% attendance rate; the National Honor Society, the college initiative, common planning time, and a vigorous after school program. The St. Regis Mohawk School is considered a school model.

Superintendent Harper cancelled the St. Regis Mohawk School’s Beach Day, despite the fact that all expenses are paid for by the Parent Teacher Organization. The Beach Day was scheduled on all school calendars, including the official SRCS Board Calendar.

The forum, of which Superintendent Harper cancelled (via email) at 1:35pm, May 31, the day of the scheduled forum, was well attended by parents, community members, one Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Sub-Chief Cheryl Jacobs and one SRCS Board member, Mike Sisto. As well, the forum was well attended by St. Regis Mohawk School teaching and support staff, many of which voiced their support for Principal Thomas. Invitations to all SRCS meetings and forums are systematically sent to all school board members of which five are Akwesasronon; Sheila Marshall, School Board President Emily Lauzon, Mike Conners Jr., Jason McDonald and P.J. Burns.

In closing, Principal Thomas thanked everyone for attending and urged everyone to attend the SRCS School Board meeting on June 14, at Salmon.