Solution Tree employee could face conflict of interest

Solution Tree Vice President Jane St. John is a woman of many interests. In addition to her vice president position, she serves on the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools and as a member of the advisory superintendent search committee.

Yet some are wondering whether St. John’s affiliations could pose a conflict of interest.

MCCSC is a client of Solution Tree, which provides it with Professional Learning Communities. And the committee on which serves St. John searches for candidates for MCCSC superintendent.

Bloomington resident and parent Jennifer Robinson said she feels that St. John’s involvement in the search process is a cause for concern and a conflict of
interest.

“There absolutely needs to be a difference between work interests and public interests,” Robinson said. “MCCSC is a client of Solution Tree. No employee of that company should have any place in the search process.”

Robinson said she is worried that St. John could ultimately be searching for potential customers rather than a new superintendent for the school district.

St. John said she is glad that people are questioning her position on the search committee, but she wants to make clear that she is putting the public’s interest first.

“I volunteered to join the committee to support their interest,” St. John said. “The size of Solution Tree should also say something to this matter. We were fine before we worked with MCCSC, and if MCCSC decided they no longer want to work with us, we will still be OK.”

Kelly Smith, assistant secretary for the MCCSC school board and a former employee of Solution Tree, said St. John would not have been chosen if there was any concern of her position at Solution Tree influencing her work on the committee.

“She is a sound-minded, fair and impartial person,” Smith said. “She has been a community leader and served on the Monroe County School Foundation for many years.”

Smith said his own former employment with Solution Tree does not influence his endorsement of PLCs.

“PLCs are a culture, not a program, that focus on learning, period,” Smith said. “It’s not about teaching. It’s about learning and it’s about the students.”

Robinson said she has nothing against PLCs but was not aware the program is marketed by Solution Tree. She said she is concerned that contracts with the company may prevent educators and administrators from looking into other options for school improvement.

To bring a consultant on-sight for PLC training and professional development, MCCSC has signed multiple contracts with Solution Tree ranging from $6,000 to $75,000.

The $75,000 contract, signed Aug. 4, will bring educational consultant Tim Brown to MCCSC schools for three sessions to coach and speak with approximately 110 staff members.

The money used for professional staff development is not paid for by money in the general fund that has been affected by budget cuts but by state grants and stimulus money.

Smith said the district needs to pay for the services so that all educators and administrators can be trained on the best practices of PLCs. He said the shift to PLCs is not the purchase of a product but rather a cultural change that requires professional assistance.

“We chose this program because it helps students learn; all the evidence is there,” Smith said. “In two or three years, we will need less business expertise, but for now we need help getting the feel for the new culture.”