This story by Liberty Darr was first published by The Other Paper on Aug. 7.
The South Burlington School District is expected to hire an investigator to look into a complaint about a mysterious notebook pillorying the former superintendent that was reportedly circulated at some teachers’ social gatherings.
The investigation comes after a July 23 formal complaint filed with the school board by Kristin Romick, the district’s executive director of educational support services who just this week assumed the temporary role of acting superintendent. The district’s former superintendent, Violet Nichols, resigned the position effective Aug. 1.
According to the complaint, Romick was made aware by some district employees about an after-graduation celebration held at the Saint John’s Club, a bar in Burlington, on June 13, where an elusive book, dubbed by the complainant as the “black book,” was being circulated among staff. The book, Romick alleges, was handmade and included questions written down for teachers and staff to answer.
The party was advertised in an email to all high school staff, and according to an email, began at noon on the day of graduation.
The employees who reported the incident to Romick stated that they were asked to answer the question for that day and sign their name. One of the questions, according to the complaint, read, “What is the next lie the superintendent will tell us?”
The employees told Romick the book is mostly circulated during social gatherings after teachers’ paydays on Fridays and is usually kept in teachers’ cars. According to the complaint, it contains ongoing commentary relating to district leadership, often in a negative tone.
Romick alleged that, according to reports from staffers, the book was being circulated at this post-graduation party by Beth Adreon, co-president of the teachers’ union.
Romick, apart from allegations of the book, also claims that separate conversations held at the party suggested a “premeditated” and “coordinated” effort to remove district leaders, including Nichols.
While a public records request sent by The Other Paper to the district to see the book was denied by Adreon, it has been described by some district staff as a sort of “burn book,” a term used to refer to a collection of negative comments or opinions about a certain group or person. The term gained popularity in 2004 after the movie “Mean Girls” used the term.
Adreon, in an emailed reply to the public records request, said the union is a private institution and is not subject to public records requests.
“Further, the South Burlington Education Association is not in possession of a ‘black book,’” she wrote.
In a phone call, the other South Burlington Educators’ Association Co-President, Noah Everitt, also asserted that he was not aware of any “Mean Girls-style burn book existing at any level, SBEA-wise or non-SBEA-wise.”
He did say, however, that he was aware that a book does exist, primarily as a way for teachers to annotate their thoughts.
“It’s not a burn book, and it also has absolutely nothing to do with the SBEA,” he said, adding that the book is mostly associated with teachers’ social gatherings every “Payday Friday.”
Meanwhile, the Vermont NEA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Vermont Labor Relations Board, alleging Romick’s investigation is intended to “harass, threaten and intimidate the union president for the work that she did on behalf of her 400 union members.”
The filing calls on the Vermont Labor Relations Board to rule that the investigation is unlawful and find that Romick has “interfered with, restrained, and coerced” the union’s leadership team and members.
But Romick, in her complaint, says these reports from employees have only amplified her growing concern about “fear for my own position and well-being” from retaliation by the South Burlington Educators Association.
“I believe my fears are justified,” Romick wrote. “It is now evident that there may be a coordinated and targeted plan, orchestrated in part by members of the SBEA and co-president Beth Adreon, to undermine and remove certain employees, including myself, due to internal political alignment or professional associations.”
That professional association, Romick said, is her open support of Nichols.
Nichols’ resignation came amid simmering tension between the South Burlington Educators’ Association and Central Office leadership. The turmoil bubbled over in April when some union members began publicly voicing their grievances about Nichols, citing toxic working conditions, fear of retaliation and questionable decision-making. The call for a new superintendent came after the union engaged in a “listening tour,” which surveyed nearly 300 of its members.
Romick, among other district staffers, has stood firm in her support of the former superintendent, even sending another email to the board in June that outlined a growing concern that she may be targeted next.
In a statement to The Other Paper, Everitt and Adreon said the complaint can only be described “as retaliation for protected union work,” asserting that they expect a speedy conclusion to this “distraction.”
“As a union, we will vigorously defend our right to organize,” the co-presidents wrote. “To that end, we will actively support our members and protect them from this type of retaliation intended to punish and intimidate those who advocate for our students, schools, and profession.”
Romick’s complaint asks the board to launch a formal investigation into the use and distribution of the book during school-affiliated social gatherings and the possible orchestration of leadership changes.
School board Chair Seamus Abshere said that while he is unable to comment on the investigation as it remains open, he did confirm that the board is tapping a third party to investigate the complaint.
“If the facts turn out to be as represented in the complaint, it would be a matter of significant concern,” he said. “However, I believe we should not draw conclusions until the facts are understood through a prompt and thorough investigation.”
