Too many unanswered questions remain

Published 9:00 pm Friday, November 15, 2002

The events of the past few weeks as described in The Herald about the departure of Mukilteo School Superintendent Gary Toothaker and the rather healthy severance package he is getting makes me wonder a few things. Why was his contract extended without a closer review of the merits to do so? Why was the board so slow to respond to this issue? Why is there a need to secure privacy of the reason for leaving?

The Herald stated in an article that Dr. Toothaker was let go because of some personal choices he made in his life, which obviously conflicted with the Mukilteo School District. Did these choices create a conflict of interest? Preferential treatment? Negative impact to third parties? Are there more employees of the Mukilteo School District that need to be reviewed, not as a witch hunt, but as a support for those employees who have to work there every day? Every coin has two sides; Dr. Toothaker is the head. Who’s the tail?

Everett