SHAWANO, WI- “I’m done, I resign” were the words spoken by longtime school board member Mart Grams as he walked out of the Shawano School Board meeting on Monday.
“I’ve had it with the corruption, and the lies, consistently lying about test scores,” Grams said. “The test scores are horrendous.”
Before walking out, Grams expressed frustration over the boards intent to offer an average of a 3.6 percent pay increase to administrators in the district. Prior to that, Grams called the Shawano School District a failing school district.
Grams was also upset that the details of the proposed pay increases for each administrator was not made public. “The tax payer has the right to know,” Grams shouted.
Board member Bobbi Lemerond asked to have the vote tabled at the last meeting so that the board had the chance to see the individual increase and salary amounts. She said she took time to that by meeting with Superintendent Kurt Krizan. “I offered that for the board to do,” Krizan said.
Grams said he could not approve raises for people who don’t deserve them. ” You don’t give raises to people who don’t succeed,” Grams said. “Not the fact that own a seat with a bigger chair. Administration does not deserve a raise, we are a failing school district.”
Grams also said that last year, the idea of giving support staff a $13,000 increase was labeled unsustainable.
The board was asked to approve a total of $43,103 dollars for next school year that would be broken down to provide the pay increases.
“If they don’t like the raises that we are not giving them, they can go somewhere else.”
Board Member David Cullen expressed frustration that Grams was not supporting the administration. “Your whole agenda has been to bash Administration,” Cullen said. Grams finally had enough and gave some parting words while turning in his computer.
“I can’t participate in a corrupt system. You are screwing children consistently, letting bullies run the system and letting children be abused.”
Grams told WTCH News that he felt he could not provide any more.
“Success is not hoping 80% of our children can read a soup label, which is about an 8th-grade reading level; it’s every child knows how to function in this chaotic world: to adapt, choose a path, succeed and be happy in life. I failed to bring any change.”
Click Below to Hear Grams Announce His Resignation From the School Board
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