09:16 AM CDT on Thursday, July 20, 2006

By Sarah Chacko / Dallas Morning News

While efforts to reinstate Jeff Henry as the Argyle High School principal are be­coming more visible, the issue also has in­cited subtler signs of friction in the community.

After Henry allegedly released results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test to students in May, the Argyle school board unanimously supported a proposal to terminate him on June 19, after a recommendation by Superin­ten­dent Carolyn Pierel.

Releasing TAKS information is a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

But the “Save Henry” signs that sprouted up around Argyle last week attest to many parents’ opinions that Henry’s pun­ishment is not just.

“We want him back as the principal,” said Lana Bode, one of the parents working to reinstate Henry. “We’re a very young and indigent school district. From a fiduciary standpoint, this appears to be a poor business decision.”

Bode and other supporters have created a Web site — www.savehenry.com — to promote their cause. The group also has created T-shirts and bumper stickers.

One of the T-shirts made quite a statement at a recent Parent-Teacher-Student Association meeting.

Barbara Roberts, association membership committee chairwoman and board member — who was wearing a “Save Henry” shirt — said association President Joyce Conroy told her, “‘If you don’t support the [school] board decision, you don’t need to be on the [PTSA] board.’ I said, ‘You got it,’ and walked out.”

Conroy could not be reached for comment.

After the meeting, Roberts said Conroy called her to say that she did not mean to imply that Roberts was no longer membership chairwoman — that the association would like Roberts to remain in that position. But Roberts said she is unsure whether she will return.

Henry supporters are not out to draw lines, Roberts said.

“We’re not begging you” to pick one side or the other, she said. “I do support the school,” no matter what happens.

“But I do not support the school board in what they’re doing because I think it’s wrong,” Roberts said.

Some residents say that there are many valid reasons for Henry’s proposed termination that people are afraid to talk about.

Sharon Partin, former business manager for the Argyle school district, said in an e-mail that morale among the faculty and staff is at an all-time low.

“It is a shame to witness the demise of Argyle ISD, which was once such a caring place to work for everyone, staff, faculty, parents and students,” she wrote in the e-mail.

Pierel said the issue is really not a big one in the community. Those who are trying to push the issue may be making it appear bigger than it is, she said.

“There are differences of opinion, certainly, but I don’t think it’s going to cause any permanent rift in the community,” she said.

Aside from supporter testimonials and “facts” about Henry’s tenure as principal, the “Save Henry” Web site also shows copies of Henry’s job appraisals, signed by Pierel.

According to the reports, in 2004 and 2005, Henry was given a rating of “meets” or “exceeds” expectations for the listed criteria, which included school morale and personnel management. Both years, Pierel commented that Henry brought about “many positive changes” to the high school and recommended a contract extension.

In April, Henry signed another two-year contract for a “certified administrator position,” but in mid-May, the incident with the TAKS scores took place. Henry allegedly allowed students working in the office to view the scores as he was preparing to release them to teachers.

On his June 6 appraisal, administered by Pierel, he was given ratings of either “meets” or “below” expectations. Pierel recommended that Henry’s contract be terminated.

“Mr. Henry’s violation of confidential TAKS scores is a serious concern,” Pierel wrote on the appraisal. “Several teachers had extreme classroom management issues which were not adequately addressed. Morale of students and teachers has been impacted by recent events.”

While Henry waits for the Texas Education Commissioner’s independent hearing examiner to review his appeal, his supporters have filed a Level 3 grievance, meaning the complaint will go to the school board. Their Level 2 grievance, which went to Pierel, was denied for “personal and confidential reasons,” Bode said.

Pierel said the examiner has 45 to 60 days to review the evidence and come forth with a finding, which the board can either adopt or reject.

If Henry is still not satisfied with the board’s decision, he can appeal to the state education commissioner, Pierel said. Before it is resolved, the board has no intention of publicly discussing Henry’s personnel issue, she said.

“It could be a very lengthy process,” she said.