Stillwater School Board Chair Responds To Criticism; 'Stop Blaming Her'

George Hoeppner, the Stillwater Area Public Schools board chair, has written a statement responding to criticism of district employees in news articles, emails and social media regarding topics related to recent school closings.

"Over the past couple weeks, a few district citizens, unhappy over the closing of schools or, perhaps, because recent elections did not turn out as they wished, have taken their unhappiness out on Kristen Hoheisel, District 834ʼs director of finance," Hoeppner said. "They have expressed their anger through various media. To those citizens, Ms. Hoheisel has become the most recent guilty party for their expressions of anger.

"In fact, she has done exactly what she was hired to do. She has brought financial recommendations to the board throughout her tenure, and, when appropriate, the board has approved those recommendations. The annual audits done independently of her department 'reported no findings when based on the districtʼs compliance with Minnesota laws and regulations.'"

"She has worked with the board and other administrators to create a balanced budget and a fund balance the board has directed in policy. For doing this important work, on behalf of all district taxpayers, she has received e-mails that have questioned her honesty and her integrity. She has become the somebody out there to blame “for an unhappy turn of events."

"To those who have written in recent days to insult Ms. Hoheisel, I ask you to stop blaming her. She is not responsible for the closing of schools nor is she responsible for the way recent elections have turned out. Because the school board chose to consider alternatives to the status quo, district employees, including Ms. Hoheisel, have become targets. For that, on behalf of the board, I apologize."

Image via Google Streetview