Consent Agenda Surprise in Marysville

There a lessons in the newspaper everyday. Marysville school board has struggled through a strike, getting rid of a superintendent and constant fighting. In this incident, the Board members didn't know that the SB President was going on a trip to NY with administrators and it was against the core values of some of the other board members. Bad situation. The superintendent said that it was his fault because they have an agreement to not surprise each other. I imagine that the consent agenda will be reviewed much more thoroughly in the future. There is a lack of trust.

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Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Dissension arises over "surprise" element of N.Y. trip

By Lynn Thompson

Times Snohomish County Bureau

The move may also have marked one of the first missteps by new Superintendent Larry Nyland, who had the authorization for the trip placed on the board's consent agenda without explanation.

"One of our working principles is that we don't surprise each other. I surprised them," Nyland said. "I messed up."

Nyland placed authorization for $4,339 in out-of-state travel on the board's Jan. 3 consent agenda, which is typically approved without discussion.