Thomas Reinke

An Open Letter to the Citizens of the Franklin Public School District

June 21, 2010Dear Friends,First, I want to thank you for all the cards, emails, calls, letters, and othermessages of support that so many parents, teachers, staff, and other membersof the community have sent to me, my family and to my attorney. Yourrespect and support mean the world to me.Second, my attorney and I have been repeatedly asked if the Board of Education has responded to my request for a hearing before it takes action tohire a new principal for Robinwood Elementary School and to transfer me toanother position. The answer is, “No.” I sent a letter to every Boardmember by email and U.S. Mail on June 21. I sent a follow-up email toevery Board member about a week later. I have not received any responseor acknowledgment of my letter from any Board member.I hope that, ultimately, the Board will agree that—based on my 17 years as asuccessful administrator in the District and 11 years as the Principal of Robinwood Elementary School—I deserve the opportunity to have ahearing.Third, I want you to know that I remain optimistic that this situation will beresolved in positive way. The members of the Board of Education are goodpeople, and I am confident that, once they remove the barriers tocommunication and get both sides of the story, they will do the right thing.We live in a democratic society where open government and the free flow of communication mean that elected officials are accountable to the peoplewho elect them.Fourth, I want to respond to some rumors. I have seen emails from oneBoard officer saying that I have filed papers in court. This is not true. Ihave not sued the District, Dr. Patz, or anyone else. In December, I merelygave notice to the Board of Education that if it did not take action to correctsome actions taken by Dr. Patz that I could be harmed. My December