An open letter to Dr. Forcella and school board members:

I am saddened and outraged to hear that you have decided, against the wishes of the students and parents of Chapel Hill School, to transfer Mr. Wartski to East Chapel Hill High. My guess is that none of you have children at Chapel Hill High who were intending to take A.P. Biology under this phenomenal teacher.

I cannot fathom that you honestly believe that moving a highly motivating, energizing, and successful A.P. Biology teacher to ECHHS (where he will teach Environmental Science) is “best for students.” This is something like moving a company’s top sales manager into an accounting position. It is poor management of resources, which is inexcusable in this era of dwindling resources for public schools!

My son will not be able to have Mr. Wartski for A.P. Biology, which infuriates me. I am a taxpayer who has chosen to live in an “expensive” school district with high taxes. At this point, I really have to reconsider whether I continue to pay the premium to live in a school district in which the administration can turn such a blind eye to the needs of students. This move is purely for the benefit of administration, contrary to all of your comments that it is best for the students. What would be best for the students would be to manage the teacher rather than make a punitive gesture intended to strike fear in the minds of any potential outspoken teachers.

Gina Reynolds

Chapel Hill

Only good memories

As a 2000 alum from Chapel Hill High I only have good memories of the positive impact Mr. Wartski had on the school. If you remember, the late ’90s was not necessarily a positive time for Chapel Hill High with multiple principal changes, redistricting, and the issues with changing the educational/achievement environment at the school. Mr. Wartski never lost a beat during this time.

In fact, looking back on my education, Mr. Wartski was the epitome of a positive impact, not to mention one of the best teachers I have EVER had throughout high school, college, and a doctoral degree. I remember Mr. Wartski not only mentoring and spreading his passion of science and learning to his students, but also as a mentor to other less experienced teachers.

If this involuntary transfer is upheld, Superintendent Thomas Forcella will have done a disservice to the current and future Chapel Hill High School students and teachers, as well as to the culture of the school. Why would Forcella want to take a teacher with so many positive attributes away from Chapel Hill High? I ask that Forcella rethink his decision and ask himself whose interests he really has in mind right now, it certainly does not appear to be the students or teachers.

Lindsay Warner

Durham

Parent’s perspective

As a parent who has had two children taught by Bert Wartski, and hopes of one more, I have written to Tom Forcella and the school board to express my concern. I received a response from Forcella that said this was in the “best interest of the student”, and “significant input with regard to climate and culture issues at CHHS was solicited from parents, staff and students.”

A college-bound student needs to take many A.P. classes to show they can handle rigorous classes in college. The A.P. Biology class that Wartski has successfully taught for 19 years with a >90 percent success rate is one such class. The decision has been made to move Wartski to East where he will teach A.P. Environmental Science – a “softer” A.P. class in the views of college admissions. How is this “in the best interest of the students”?

I teach introductory classes at Elon University in Geology and Energy and Environment. I find I have to dumb down my college class because most students have not had been through a class like Bert Wartski’s.

I also question Forcella’s response that significant input was solicited. While I cannot speak from the teachers, I have seen nothing but public outcry from articles in the paper, Facebook pages started, and discussion at the school board.

Tom Forcella, we are owed an honest answer as to why you are doing this.

Elizabeth Pratson

Chapel Hill