SASI fires BlueEyes
Raucous hearing ends early

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — It was a scene that would have made Jerry Springer proud.

As attorney Justin Jones began his opening statement, which included questions over the authority of the board he was answering to, he soon found himself threatened with expulsion from the Shiprock Alternative Schools, Incorporated (SASI) campus.

The warnings came from both the attorney representing the school board and board members and had a security guard moving towards Jones' chair to remove him from the room.

Jones, the attorney for Faye BlueEyes, came to refute the 10 charges against his client but began his statement with questions about SASI policies and Indian Education Committee policies. Those questions had school board attorney Doug Moeller reminding Jones that the school board was holding the hearing as a favor to BlueEyes and that the meeting would consist of BlueEyes defending herself against those charges.

"Before I proceed," said Jones at the beginning of his opening argument. "I have concerns that I want resolved before we begin."

Those concerns weren't fully expressed as Moeller jumped to his feet and told Jones to follow the agenda or be expelled from the school grounds.

"You are here as a guest," Moeller said. "You are not to question how this is to run. You questioning how this is going to run is not going to happen. You will address the 10 issues and that's it. You requested this and you will stick to the agenda."

Moeller called the school security guard in and told Jones to follow the agenda or be removed, an act that took place two minutes into Jones opening statement.

But the decision to have Moeller control the meeting wasn't one that all the board members had actively agreed to.

School board member Lawrence Marshall pointed out that he hadn't received ground rules for the meeting and even asked who had hired Moeller and allowed him to control the meeting. Moeller admitted that he didn't have a contract with the school board in writing. School board member Sarah White joined Marshall in questioning Moeller's purpose at the meeting.

With Moeller's position unknown, board president Jennifer Laughter called an executive meeting to discuss Moeller's involvement with the board. It was an executive meeting that involved a heated exchange among the board members and saw Marshall walk out before any decision had been made public concerning Moeller.

"They (the board) don't listen, so I'm leaving," said Marshall. "It's all confused. I'm here for the kids. I wasn't here when they hired that guy. I don't know what they're doing; he doesn't have a contract with the school board. Sometimes you have to do this (leave) so that they'll listen."

Following the board's decision to approve Moeller, Jones introduced his second concern that saw him introduce Moeller, as a witness for BlueEyes, meaning that Moeller would have to leave the meeting under the established rules for the meeting.

"You are on the verge of getting kicked out," said Moeller. "You need to leave. I am the attorney for the board and you're following what I say."

After Jones continued to question the policies and rules applied to BlueEyes, Moeller warned BlueEyes that her lawyer was about to be ejected from the meeting. BlueEyes said that she shared similar concerns and Moeller ended the meeting.

"Rather than address these issues, Mr. Jones elected to question the authority of the Board of Directors," said the SASI statement. "After being cautioned several times, the Board instructed Mr. Jones to either address the issues or forfeit the right to be heard. Mr. Jones again tried to question the authority of the board and its propriety."

"The Board of Directors then adjourned the meeting and declared the allegations of malfeasance, misfeasance and misconduct to have been found and officially terminated Ms. BlueEyes from her position as Director of Support Services," said the statement concerning the judgment found against BlueEyes.

The vote for BlueEyes termination was 4-1 with Sarah White voting to keep BlueEyes on at the school.

"There's so much information that still needs to be considered," said White. "It's too soon to make this decision. Faye BlueEyes shouldn't be fired this soon."

For Jones, the decision was one that he and his client had already suspected would be given them. Preparations for their next move include appearing before the Office of Navajo Labor Relations to request that there be an evaluation of the board and its decision to terminate BlueEyes.

"They're going to proceed with their termination," said Jones. "That's going to be given to the office of Navajo Labor Relations. It's pretty evident that there is cause for an issuance for a right to sue. That right to sue will be filed with the Office of Navajo Labor Relations."

For BlueEyes, the reason for the charges against her and the order of termination handed down by the board came after she chose to speak out against credit card misuse by administration members.

"I was asking too many questions. I was questioning the credit card use of Melissa Culler and Scott Hunsinger. I was writing them memos and telling them that it wasn't the reason to use the card," said BlueEyes.

"The primary reason why I got put on leave was to get me out of the way so that the new school board members can have at it with the funds and so that Hunsinger and Culler and do what they want."

The SASI school board also determined that Scott Hunsinger will continue as Acting Director of Support Services until a permanent replacement is found.

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brianhassler@hotmail.com.