We, the parents, grandparents, friends, and students of Robert L. Merritt Middle Junior High School petition the Indianola School District Superintendent, Superintendent's Conservator, and School Board to remove Mrs. Glenda Shedd from her position as principal Mr. Edmmond Williams from his position as assistant principal of Robert L. Merritt Junior High School, effective immediately. Since being appointed principal by the School Board to Robert L. Merritt Middle Junior High in August 2008-2009, Mrs. Shedd has failed to communicate adequately with parents and the PTSA. In particular, her decisions about our children educational opportunities provided by the school board have been ill-considered and they do not allow the students the best possible educational opportunities, nor do they respect the handbook of the school district. Her communications with parents about these matters have caused a great deal of controversy, as her statements often do not agree with her actions. She recently received two letters from a student that simply stated that the child felt that she was being bullied. The second letter stated that the child was willing to bring harm to herself because she was afraid of these same girls that she named to Mrs. Shedd and again nothing was done about this situation. Before these letters were written the parent of this child printed off threating text messages from her child’s phone and gave a copy to Mrs. Shedd which still nothing was done. The teacher and counselor of this student both stated that they did indeed pass this letter on personally themselves to Mrs. Shedd which she is stating that she never received any letters. In 2012-2013, Student Handbook we have a Bullying/Cyber Bullying policy. If a child is found guilty of bullying that child 1st-3rd offense can lead to Out of School Suspension. Parents aren’t being notified of these types of incidents, but they are notified about shoes, belts, cellphones, pencils, and paper. These are the phone calls we get at home or work or about our kids talking in class. Mrs. Shedd must fully support all educational opportunities that help our students achieve at such a high level. Mr. Williams he wants to threaten your children of suspension every time they come to the office to complain about a child bullying them. Still at this point no parent has been notified of any ongoing situations. Parents at Robert L. Merritt make extraordinary efforts to support the school through PTSA-led fundraising, volunteering, and event organization and attendance. Mrs. Shedd has not supported these efforts and continues to antagonize parents with last-minute decisions that go against the best interests of the students. Parents and children voices are unheard because Mrs. Shedd wants to talk about the children in China or her children that has gone to college or her children that are about to graduate. We are not worried about what’s going on in China or in her home; we are simply speaking about the best interests of our children that deserve their chance to attend college. Her behavior undermines the school community in additional ways. She frequently responds to individual parent's concerns with these big words like you are uneducated, and the information in her conversation often does not agree with the facts. Mrs. Shedd has abused her authority, she doesn’t abide by the school policy but, she expects the students and parents to abide by this policy that was written by her. She doesn’t communicate with the parents of the children nor does she listen to our children. Finally, instead of partnering with outstanding and experienced teachers and parents, she has subjected them to increased monitoring of children’s clothes and shoes while providing little information about the direction she wants to take the school. Teacher morale is suffering, and the students suffer as a result. We the undersigned are demanding as taxpayers and citizens that concerns for our children will be met without resistance from the School Board. We also petition to remove Glenda Shedd and Edmond Williams from Robert L. Merritt Junior High School as principal based on his and her ongoing pattern of controversial and antagonistic behavior.

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