Eden Prairie / Lawsuit claims principal lied about mercury storage

The principal of an Eden Prairie charter school misled officials about the storage of mercury involved in a spill that closed the school in October, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

[Brad]

Another wonderful charter school endangering students. Why hasn't this been investigated. If the facts stated in the lawsuit are correct the principal was derelict in her duties and culpable for the subsequent environmental and home contamination.

[Jake]

Actually this is a wonderful charter school. My daughter has will be completing Calculus, she is reading Ceasar in Latin, and with the assistance of the Socratic Method and Logic courses has scored higher than the average accepted student to the Ivy League schools. I am grateful for an exceptional education equal to the best private schools.

The errors of the administration do not reflect the many excellent teachers and students.

[Get your facts straight]

Wow, you sure did a great job stating the truth today! Ok, because e-mails are unable to detect sarcasm let me be more blunt. This article is so distorted that it makes me never want to read another article written by you again! I happen to be a parent of a student who attends this Academy. I, unlike you, have seen and heard both sides and I have to say your article is so far from the truth. Listen there is two sides to a story... Delbert, I mean David you surely should know this and then theirs the truth! David, were you absent the day your junior college taught "research" Sir, if you were wise you would of sought out both sides and printed both sides. Anyone reading this should see that this is a very angry, embarrassed, disgruntle teacher who basically got caught with his pants down... if you read the e-mails you would know that I'm almost being literal. Did your "source" tell you that it was a TEACHER'S SON who spilled the mercury AFTER school was out? Did your "source" tell you that this is one of the teacher's that your "source" was in cahoots with? Yea, didn't think so. Have ya ever thought that this Mercury spill was apart of a bigger plan? Sir, go back to school or get another job. What you wrote belongs more in the trashy gossip magazine called the "SUN" I'm aware that you contacted the school... before they new about the lawsuit. How can one comment about something they knew nothing about? I ask you again to get ALL your facts straight BEFORE you go spouting off with the ink! Your boss should seriously look for another reporter. You are an ambulance chaser and I bet you sleep really well at night. Again, being sarcastic! You owe Eagle Ridge Academy an apology.

[BillB_St Paul]

Charter school says it all, I hope the kids get into public schools and are protected and educated.

[Helen]

This is totally wrong, that a school official would break into a teacher's account! They should throw the book at her...and that Board of that School and I assume the Minneapolis School System (most charters report to the state or the district) best wake up and get rid of her and reinstate this fine Latin teacher. This is outrageous.

[Mike]

I'm still amazed at how panicked they get about mercury spills now. I went to school in the sixties and early seventies and I can remember putting mercury on a table and watching it roll around and even touching it.

[My Post]

BillB_St Paul wrote:

Charter school says it all, I hope the kids get into public schools and are protected and educated.

Charter Schools ARE public schools.

[My Post]

Mike wrote:

I'm still amazed at how panicked they get about mercury spills now. I went to school in the sixties and early seventies and I can remember putting mercury on a table and watching it roll around and even touching it.

Me too. It was seriously fun stuff to play with. Our science teacher would pass a big bottle of it around so we could see how heavy it was. He'd say now don't drop it and would chuckle.

[student]

Haha! this makes me laugh. For I being a student of the school had to sign a internet policy (that both teachers and students agreed to sign). The policy stated that anything the students or teachers accessed on the computer the administration had full rights to access that information. So note to teachers: read the form before you sign.

p.s. it wasn't his private email it was the email the school gave to him.

[Parent]

This is a great school with a tremendously talented staff and administration. The school is only three years old and the students out score other area students academically. Without doubt this article is sensational journalism and lacks solid facts and background information. Laws prevent dismissing teachers without just cause so I'm certain the board had its bases covered. It's too bad some people for personal and political gain want to discredit others and damage the image of a terrific school.

[Why Me]

If you can't read between the lines and see that these two teachers were a couple of drama queens trying to get even with someone they didn't want to be led by you really need to clean your glasses.

[Mellers]

I fully agree with "My Post." I volunteer for a charter school, which IS a public school.

One school made one mistake. Don't judge all charter schools.

[ERA family]

The students didn't sign an internet policy until after Miss Reid got fired. My child said many times that Miss Reid and Mr. Garvin were some of the best teacher that Eagle Ridge had, and I know that many families are now going to leave that school after this year because of all this chaos. I think that there really are some serious admin. problems at that school that need to be adressed. While all this is going on there is both a science and a part time latin sub, but still the education of the kids is suffering. I'm sorry to say that ERA has fallen from any formor glory it once held.

[ER Parent]

Jake is right on. Eagle Ridge provides an outstanding education for our children; great teachers and a challenging classical curriculuum. You can't judge the whole school by the actions of the administrator. She's a very nice person but if all this is true, I'm sure they can find someone else to lead the school. There's nothing like a change in leadership to restore morale and confidence. The school is much bigger than one person.

[ERA family]

I will correct myself now, Miss Reid resigned

[Parent]

I think Why Me has it right. These teachers are "drama queens" and don't like their boss. Perhaps when all is said and done this school will be a good example of what is RIGHT with charter schools - keeping only those teachers who truly deserve to teach our kids and do a heck of a good job doing it. PS For those who don't know, our kids were kept warm, fed pizza and parents were sent regular updates when the mercury spill happened. This situation was handled perfectly despite what the "drama queens" would like you to believe. Notice this guy only file this garbage law suit when the school disciplined him. What a joke!

[Parent]

Oh get off it! The drama queen teachers and a few zealous parents are hurting the school - NO ONE ELSE. ERA Family is probably one of them. Maybe you need to do a little research on why the teachers were put on leave. The board email I received stated that they CONSPIRED TO CAUSE HARM TO THE SCHOOL AND THE DIRECTOR. So stop "rocking and start rowing" - support the teachers, director and board. Our children will be better off with POSITIVE support.

[big earl]

well well- i see some schools are not better then others, like they think they are....
grass might be taller but it's the crap under it making it do that. CRAP.....

[Big Matthew]

big earl wrote:

well well- i see some schools are not better then others, like they think they are....
grass might be taller but it's the crap under it making it do that. CRAP.....

Why so bitter with "some schools"? Did you get picked on at school? Do you want a hug :) I think you would have to be a foolish earl to believe this school is crap. It has some of the highest test scores in the area.

[Lawyer]

According to the complaint filed in US District Court the emails were on Hotmail. Third party accounts like Hotmail, Wells Fargo Banking, Health Partner Medical records, etc... remain private even if accessed from other entities computing devices. If not ... think about the ramifications for the internet... The schools policy lists that it is subordinate to Federal, State and Local law which covers the events as stated in the complaint.