Palm Beach School Administrators’ Association
September 11, 2020
The Honorable School Board Members
Palm Beach County School District
Dear School Board Member:
Please accept this letter from the Palm Beach School Administrators’ Association (PBSAA).
PBSAA’s extreme consternation over the lack of clear district communication, credible
planning and operational systems for the reopening of Palm Beach School District (PBSD) on
September 21, 2020 is herein stated.
We are now:
 10 days until we reopen school – (6 working days)
 Student and teacher counts are unknown.
 Breakdown of “live” and virtual enrollments are unknown.
 COVID-19 measures in schools are not completed.
 PBSAA has not received the brick & mortar CTA MOU.
Your PBSAA feel you have over-promised to the public a smooth opening but the likelihood is
PBSD will under deliver on the expectations for students, parents, teachers and school based
administrators.
Specific examples of promises made which are problematic:
 Allowing teachers to choose between “bricks and mortar” and virtual.
 Allowing students to move back and forth from virtual to in school enrollment causing
master board and safety challenges.
 Hiring freeze with massive vacancies, resignations, and transient teachers.
 No provision for supervision of classes when the teachers choose the virtual option.
 Freeing teachers of responsibilities which then fall on over-loaded school based
administrators.
Leadership:
There is none. When everyone is giving direction; no one is!
The Reopening plan:
The countless meetings, surveys and town hall sessions represent activity but little
accomplishment. The result is mediocrity, not a meritorious focus. Academics are an afterthought consisting of state guidelines, policies, and school grades.

 Palm Beach School Administrators’ Association

Communication:
There is a complete absence of clear cut communication. District Bulletins and reopening
plans are serial, redundant and have little operational detail – hence they go nowhere.
Decisions are often in conflict because they do not come from a single source. Often,
principals are patronized with gratuitous statements of appreciation.
Support your PBSAA:
There is a complete absence of “all hands on deck” philosophy to be ready for September 21.
School based administrators feel frustrated and disrespected. We strongly request
immediate action to address our concerns regarding the safety, security and welfare of our
students and staff.
Sincerely

Annmarie Dilbert
Annmarie Dilbert,
Chair, Principals’ Division,
Palm Beach School Administrators’ Association
Cc:

Dr. Donald Fennoy
Dr. Art Johnson