This letter is in response to Ann Salvadalena’s recent letter titled, “Herald article filled with innuendo” and in support of Bruce Burns’ guest editorial referring to the surrounding issues of the resignation of Mukilteo School District superintendent, Dr. Gary Toothaker.
Ann Salvadalena’s letter accuses The Herald of tarnishing Mariner High School and the district’s reputation. The blame should be placed on Tracy VanWinkle and Dr. Toothaker. I was quite appalled to see an article titled, “Toothaker linked to Mariner High principal” on the front page of the paper.
As a 2001 graduate of Mariner High School and active Herald reader, I had been following the Toothaker severance package story with vigilance, since I do not think Toothaker should have taken his large $320,000 severance package away from the district’s students. While this was another blow for Mariner High School, I believe that The Herald had no more of a part in revealing this “innuendo” than VanWinkle and Toothaker had in partaking in it. I am sure that Dr. Toothaker did do a lot for the district and Ms. VanWinkle did do her part to make Mariner High School a better place, but what they were doing was inappropriate and was interfering with their jobs.
I agree with Bruce Burns that The Herald just started the ball rolling for a change in “building leadership” at Mariner High School. I also agree the leadership had been declining in quality over the four years I attended Mariner. So, thank you to The Herald and its reporters for all the investigative reporting they did for the taxpayers of this district and for not letting Dr. Toothaker and Ms. VanWinkle get off easy in this scandal.
Mukilteo
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