NHUHSD Board To Hear Johnson’s Explanation

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Dan Johnson reading Wellesley High School English teacher David McCullough, Jr.’s “You Are Not Special” speech as though it was a letter he had written to his daughter at the 2013 Arcata High School Commencement Ceremony. Submitted photo

Eye Staff Report

ARCATA – Nearly six weeks after NHUHSD Boardmember Dan Johnson gave a commencement speech apparently cribbed from another source, the Northern Humboldt Union High School Governing Board has called a special meeting to consider the matter.

The board will meet this Friday, July 26 in the Arcata High Multipurpose Room to mull a “Possible response to public concern regarding the 2013 Arcata High School graduation ceremony and accept Board member Dan Johnson’s statement to community.”

Update: the following closed session item has been added to an amended agenda: “[X] PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE .”

Johnson described his June 13 Arcata High School address as a personal letter to his daughter. Large portions of it appear to have been lifted from a Wellesley High School, Massachusetts commencement speech given in 2012 by teacher David McCullough, Jr. Titled “You Are Not Special,” the speech made a national stir.

The NHUHSD board has referred all comment to Johnson, who has not returned requests for an explanation. The board’s inaction and Johnson’s silence have led to calls for resignation by him and other boardmembers.

The Governing board’s amended agenda:

NORTHERN HUMBOLDT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

Friday, July 26, 2013

Arcata High School Multi-Purpose Room

9:00 a.m.

AMENDED AGENDA

1.0 OPEN SESSION

1.1 Call to Order

1.2 Flag Salute

1.3 Roll Call

2.0 PUBLIC COMMENTS

2.1 District Employees

Individuals speaking on matters not listed on the agenda are asked to step forward to the lectern and state clearly their name and address.

2.2 Non-Agenda Items

Members of the public may comment on non-agenda matters. No action may be taken on topics not listed on the agenda.

2.3 Agenda Items

Individuals will have an opportunity to speak on items on the agenda during Board discussion on that item. Individual speakers shall be allowed three minutes to address the Board on each agenda or non-agenda item. The Board shall limit the total time for public input on each item to twenty minutes.

3.0 ACTION ITEMS

3.1 Possible response to public concern regarding the 2013 Arcata High School graduation ceremony and receive Board member Dan Johnson’s statement to community

4.0 PUBLIC COMMENTS

5.0 ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION

[X] CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR

[X] PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE

6.0 RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

7.0 ADJOURNMENT

NOTICE: Any writing, not exempt from public disclosure under Government Code Section 6253.5, 6254, 6254.3, 6254.7, 6254.15, 6254.16, or 6254.22, which is distributed to all or a majority of the members of the governing board by any person in connection with a matter subject to discussion or consideration at an open meeting of the board is available for public inspection at the Arcata High School and McKinleyville High School Library or the District Office. Please call Tammy Pires. Superintendent’s Secretary at (707) 839-6481 if you have any questions.

In compliance with Government Code section 54954.2(a) Northern Humboldt Union High School District will, on request make agendas available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. Individuals who need this agenda in an alternative format or who need a disability-related modification or accommodation in order to participate in the meeting should contact, Tammy Pires, Superintendent’s Secretary at (707) 839-6481.

The governing board’s original agenda: