GONCHER QUITS SCHOOL BOARD OVER DISPUTE

Writing that the Cape Girardeau school board "undermined its own integrity and sincerity" when it didn't renew Cape Central principal Randie Fidler's contract in February, board member David Goncher resigned Wednesday, a day after city voters narrowly passed a school tax increase.

His letter of resignation was read at Wednesday's special school board meeting.

"My resignation really took effect in May," Goncher said, reached at work later in the day. "I held off announcing it until today so it wouldn't affect the election. Nobody asked me to do that, I just realize how much the district needed this to pass."

Goncher, who has been on the board 4 1/2 years, pointed to the "firing" of Cape Girardeau Central High School principal Randie Fidler as the primary reason he resigned. Fidler's contract was not renewed in February, even though district administrators recommended Fidler be kept on.

"Randie Fidler was fired from Cape public schools because of the politics involved and because of political meandering," Goncher said, declining to elaborate. "People know what happened."

While the reasons behind the Fidler's dismissal aren't public record, Fidler said at the time he believed it stemmed from an incident that involved the discipline of a student.

Question of authority

Goncher said he realized the board had legal authority to not renew Fidler's contract, but he said it was outside board protocol. The board almost always follows the recommendation of the superintendent, he said. They should have in this case, said Goncher, who insists Fidler was the best principal the high school ever had.

"It's our job to govern and not manage," said Goncher, an insurance agent. "It's the superintendent's job to direct us on those things. That's why he makes what he makes and we have assistant superintendents to help him make those decisions. When you get right down to it, this was a chop job."

After the letter was read, board member Mark Carver told the board they should learn something from Goncher's resignation.

"I think we should be cognizant of the issues raised in Mr. Goncher's letter," he said. "We need to act within our parameters. We need to keep that in mind so this issue won't be raised again."

Board president Bob Fox said the board acted appropriately.

"He's been a member of the board for a long time, and he knows there are decisions you don't agree with," Fox said. "It's just the nature of the school board. Having said that, I was shocked that he would just quit like this."

Superintendent Dan Steska said Goncher is entitled to his opinion.

"I'm sorry that Mr. Goncher felt as he did about board procedures," Steska said. "The board has the ultimate decision on whom to hire and fire. They were technically within the latitude of their power."

Oak Ridge, Mo., native Michael Cowan replaced Fidler. In a twist, Fidler took Cowan's old job as principal at Valley Park High School.

Goncher, 48, said the ramifications of Fidler's dismissal already are apparent. He believes that former board president Ferrell Ervin lost his seat in the last election because of it and believes that Tuesday's tax-issue election wouldn't have been as close if Fidler's contract was renewed.

"I was tickled to death that it passed," he said. "I didn't want it to get beat. But I think a message was sent. And I think a message will continue to be sent."

THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS

Anyone interested in filling the Cape Girardeau School Board seat relinquished by David Goncher can submit a letter of application to Rob Huff, the board's secretary and the district's chief financial officer. Letters can be mailed to Huff at the board office at 61 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701. Letters must be received by Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. The board will interview candidates on Aug. 27 and will appoint a replacement on Sept. 17. That replacement will hold the seat until the April 2 election, at which time voters will choose someone to serve what would have been the final year of Goncher's term.