Post date: Apr 12, 2012 9:55:25 PM
To advisors, to distribute to students and parents, concerning this situation.
First, I would like to deeply thank the entire student and parent community who have been so supportive during this very difficult time for me. Your kind words and actions mean more to me than I would ever know.
Yes, my contract has been non-renewed for next year. This was not the choice that I would have made, but it was the decision none the less. I have spent a lot of time coming to terms with this over the past few weeks. I have experienced an incredible range of emotions over this time, some incredibly dark and some wonderfully invigorating.
Every person's life is a process. As they go through this process, sometimes they are able to determine every turn of their path; either through long term planning or spontaneous left turns. However, at other times, their path is determined for them. Sometimes the way is shut, and they must forge a path in a different direction. I am ready to forge that path.
I appreciate all of the work that people are doing with the long term health of this school in mind. I am sad that I cannot help you in that work.
But, for myself personally, I ask that you remove me from that work. I, as a person, need to be able to move on. I need to be able to work on my next step, to focus on moving forward. I feel that I am being suspended in a limbo that is not of my own making, and it is making a very challenging time even more difficult for me. I ask you, as a student body, to continue to fight to make this place YOUR school. But I ask that you allow me to move forward.
It has been brought to my attention that there are a number of actions, from facebook to an online petition to speaking to the school board, that are in process with the goal of my retention. I respectfully ask that these actions and others cease, so that I can move forward. Let me make this clear: I do not plan on working at New Vista after the end of this school year. Even if the decision were made by the board to overturn my non-renewal, I would not feel comfortable, either personally or professionally, continuing to work for the people who made this decision.
I hope that I have made this clear. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you all
Mark Olofson