SANDY SPRINGS, Ga.,None — A north Fulton County principal is defending herself against allegations of unprofessional behavior that ultimately got her removed from her post.
Dr. Ruth L. Baskerville was principal at Woodland Charter Elementary School in Sandy Springs until Friday, when she told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik she received word that the board wouldn't be renewing her contract as of June 30.
Baskerville immediately sent an urgent email voice message to parents and staff, which Petchenik obtained from a Woodland parent.
"Ron Wade of H.R. (human resources) informed me that a charge was made against me by Elisa Falco, the Georgia Charter Schools Association representative whom I invited to come to Woodland for three days," she said in the message. "Based on that charge, I received a letter from the superintendent stating the Board of Education will not renew my contract after June 30, 2011. H.R. insisted that I let my parents and staff members know, so I've done that. Thank you."
Petchenik learned that the incident in question involved Baskerville yelling at a student and a parent in the presence of that representative from the Georgia Charter School Association.
Baskerville told Petchenik by phone that she had a stellar record and no letters of reprimand in her personnel file. She said she's hired an attorney to negotiate with the Board of Education.
Fulton County School Board spokeswoman Susan Hale told Petchenik that Baskerville was removed from her post because of a "pattern" of unprofessional behavior, which she said includes the manner in which Baskerville notified parents and staff of her removal.
A letter posted on the school's website from area superintendent Leonard Box expressed regret about Baskerville's email to parents, saying it wasn't the way the school district typically notified people of changes.
"We regret any concern her communication may have caused your family," Box wrote.
Petchenik talked to a parent who said all of this surprised her.
"She's just been a great advocate," said Chiteka Jackson, who has two students attending the school. "She has been wonderful."
Hale told Petchenik the school had recently lost its charter because it didn't satisfy the petition requirements. Hale said the loss of the charter didn't result in Baskerville's removal, but that it's been acknowledged the renewal petition process "wasn't handled as well as it should have."
In a statement from the Georgia Charter Schools Association, spokesman Seth Coleman told Petchenik the "GCSA had nothing to do with any employment decisions made by the Fulton County School System regarding Dr. Baskerville."