SPRD board looks to the future

As a rocky chapter closes at Sisters Park & Recreation District with the resignation of a new executive director after a stormy four-month tenure, the board of directors is looking to the future while reflecting on lessons learned.

Jeff Tryens, who just assumed the board chairman's role as of July 1, is spending several hours of each day in the SPRD office working with staff on day-to-day operations. His first day he held a staff meeting during which the employees were able to give voice to their concerns and questions. There was a general consensus that the staff "felt let down by the board," regarding the situation with recently departed executive director Todd Garrett.

Tryens let them know that up until the July 10 board meeting, when Garrett displayed an emotional outburst, the board had not witnessed that type of behavior. Prior to that meeting, the board had been in the position of hearing opposing stories from Garrett and the staff.

"After last Tuesday," Tryens told the board, visitors, and former Senior and Adult Program Director Shannon Rackowski at a July 17 board meeting, "we saw the problem (the board had been telling Garrett to fix) was unfixable. We then took immediate action. We are sorry it (the situation with Garrett) caused pain."

Former chairman Bob Keefer added that the attorney working with the board advised them they couldn't speak with the employees about what was occurring. In public agencies like SPRD, the executive director is the only employee the board hires, fires, and manages. The executive director does all the employee management of the district staff.

Tryens told The Nugget, "As a board, we can't reach down into the organization and go around the executive director to the employees." He went on to say, "It's a difficult balancing act to be a proactive board without being an interfering board."

When asked if the board had considered bringing in an outside organizational consultant to help right the ship, Tryens indicated that Keefer is working on securing an interim executive director who specializes in coming into districts in need of some healing and reorganization.

Tryens also indicated before the interim arrives, the board will spend time reflecting on what didn't work and where they want to go from here, and they may need some help with that.

Tryens said, "My highest priority is that not a single kid knows anything is other than happy and normal here at SPRD. I want all our patrons to know we are solving our issues. And community events will go as smoothly as they always have."

Tryens is also contacting a number of community partners, sponsors, service clubs, and senior groups to touch base, answer questions, hear concerns, and receive feedback.

Rackowski was afforded the opportunity to address the board about her concerns, her reasons for resigning, and for withdrawing from producing SPRD's popular August luau. She has been offered the opportunity to produce the luau again, but it is her decision.

As of Monday morning, Rackowski had opted out of her role in producing the luau and the board announced that there will be a different event in its place.

Board chair Jeff Tryens informed The Nugget that "SPRD is continuing the summer community dinner, but in different form. The luau will not be held this year because we lack the expertise on staff to organize and lead this event. As a result, the board decided to take a different direction. Board members and staff will host a free community dinner on August 9 to thank the community for its support for recreation in Sisters."