Weiss’ behavior is unacceptable

I was astounded to read The Herald’s Oct. 12 endorsement of Alan Weiss for Edmonds School Board.

As a union representative working with school employees for over 20 years, I have worked with hundreds of principals. None have been as divisive and detrimental to their staff as Alan Weiss. In his years as principal at Edmonds-Woodway High School Mr. Weiss, after thorough investigation by the Edmonds district, was disciplined numerous times for his treatment of students and staff. The discipline was for reasons including inappropriate comments sexual in nature and bullying. The discipline included letters of reprimand and a suspension from duty.

The Herald, in its endorsement, refers to these disciplinary measures as “ruffled feathers along the way, showing he’s not afraid to confront resistance.” Perhaps to an editorial board taking a “good old boy” stance on this type of behavior, it is insignificant, but to the rest of the country and to the individuals who have been the target of Mr. Weiss’s inappropriate behavior it is completely unacceptable.

It is especially unacceptable for this individual to potentially serve in the capacity of a school board member charged to protect students and staff from exactly that kind of behavior.

Dave Wood