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The union representing educators at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School is urging Superintendent Maureen Lynch to change her management style after, they allege, a climate of retribution and fear.
Whittier Tech Education Association Union President Katie Staunton told WHAV the anxiety and unease gripping the Whittier Tech staff increased to the point this spring where the union decided to survey members about their interactions with Lynch and her staff.
The anonymous “Climate” survey results prompted the union to send Lynch a strongly worded letter June 17, urging her to “take affirmative steps this summer” to rebuild trust, strengthen communication and foster a culture of mutual respect. It concludes, “When we come back together this fall, we will be monitoring progress and looking forward to significant improvements.”
The letter and survey results were also provided to the 14 members of the Whittier Tech School Committee. In addition to Haverhill, Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury make up the Whittier district.
WHAV reached out to Lynch for comment but she did not respond in time for this story. Whittier Tech School Committee Chair Ronald Fitzgerald of Salisbury told WHAV he received the letter and survey results from the union, but he has not had a chance to sit down with Lynch to discuss them.
“In fairness before I comment, I need to talk with the superintendent first,” Fitzgerald said.
Staunton said Lynch’s response to the union survey was to send out her own survey.
“It is no surprise that she got very different results because hers was not anonymous,” Staunton said.
The union chief said relations between the union’s 121 members and Lynch took a hit last fall when several members received confusing information about the amounts of their health insurance premiums. Withdrawals were made from their paychecks without explanation, she explained. When those affected questioned bills, they were met with confusion and a lack of transparency, Staunton said. That experience was further compounded when requests for personal days were denied.
“We still do not know what is happening with our health insurance premiums and it has been nearly a full year since we started asking questions,” Staunton told WHAV. “And personal days should never be an issue because they are part of our contract.”
The union survey included 92 questions which addressed the management style of Lynch and her staff.
On the question whether members believe Lynch communicated effectively with her staff, 60.8% of the 84 respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed. Assistant Superintendent and Principal Chris Laganas fared better with 62.5% of 88 respondents indicating they agreed or strongly agreed that Laganas is an effective communicator.
On the question of whether Lynch respected them as educators, 65.9% of 84 respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed. On the question of whether they believe Lynch creates a positive work environment, of the 86 respondents 69.7% either disagreed or strongly disagreed. By comparison, 69.7% of 86 respondents said they believe Laganas helped created a positive work environment.