EDITOR:

When Dr. Jay Kulbertis “cooked the books” as Ann Fix aptly called it, it wasn’t just the Gladstone Area Public Schools that took the hits. As Dr. Kulbertis is also superintendent of the Rapid River Schools, the same happened to their students in the Early Middle College (EMC) program. In his Jan. 22, 2018, letter to the Rapid River School Board, DSSISD Superintendent Doug Leisenring includes a paragraph from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) application to participate in this excellent program. The last sentence states, “the applicant certifies that the information submitted on this application is true and correct.” This application also states “Assurance item #2 expressly stated ‘Early/Middle College students will be identified and flagged in the MSDS (Michigan Student Data System) as Early/Middle College Students participating in the Early Middle College no later that 11th Grade.'” This is the data that was falsely reported for both school districts. In his letter, Mr. Leisenring indicates that Bay College’s Dr. Laura Coleman and Dr. Matt Barron met with Dr. Kulbertis and Gladstone High School Principal Brady Downey and told them “they had to change what they were doing and follow the rules of the Michigan Department of Education MDE.” This letter also states “Three local superintendents ‘knew Gladstone was not coding students before the fall count day in the 11th grade.'” And, then Dr. Kulbertis tells Mr. Leisenring that he had spoken with the MDE personnel “to discuss his disagreement over the rules for Early Middle College programs.” Really? After Dr. Kulbertis had come under the scrutiny of the MDE, he states, “his new secretary forgot to code these students properly.”

Why was he not checking her work before submission? In reading this Rapid River School Board letter, and when combined with the letter to the Gladstone Area Schools, it is mind boggling with the degree of deceit/arrogance that occurred. Michigan’s State Superintendent Brian Whiston states in the letter “The practice of coding every student with a 3500 EMC identifier is dishonest and misleading.” The UPMatters.com website states in their document “The board (Gladstone School Board) finds that Dr. Kulbertis acted with negligence and disregard of the Early Middle College rules and regulations.” This, even after the lengths his education colleagues locally and at the state level repeatedly warned him and tried to assist him. What kind of person does this? He even threw his secretary under the bus. How shameful. The Gladstone School Board also indicates in this document “Kulbertis is to also discontinue his involvement with the Early Middle College Program if it continues (including Rapid River).” So Rapid River students got burned as well. And their school board agrees with the slap on the wrist Kulbertis received. And Kulbertis will “be required to follow a plan measuring his progress and compliance with the stipulations as part of the corrective action plan, as well.” Who will monitor him? Why put up with this? He needs to resign or be terminated.

Gerry Niedermaier

Gladstone