Amid Sexual Emails, Former DSM Superintendent Sebring Had Choice Words for Ankeny School Board, Wendt
Buried in Nancy Sebring's emails are her opinions on the Ankeny school board and former Superintendent Matthew Wendt.
Deep in the emails that led to her early departure as Des Moines Schools Superintendent, Nancy Sebring expressed some strong opinions about the Ankeny school board and the superintendent at the time, Matthew Wendt.
Sebring resigned after it was discovered that she sent dozens of sexually explicit emails to her lover, and writing the notes on district computers cost her a job she had lined up to become superintendent in Omaha.
More of the emails were released last week after she lost a court fight trying to keep them private.
The Des Moines Register reports that in one April 25 exchange, she tells her lover about a breakfast meeting with Ankeny Superintendent Matthew Wendt, and said “he’s got a crazy board.”
Sebring called Wendt “an arrogant guy and not well liked by his staff,” according to the paper.
“However, I try to look for the good in people, and he has some definite good qualities,” she wrote. “There are some interesting issues going on in Ankeny.”
DanB
1:24 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Considering the source, I wouldn't consider her comments worth anything. No integrity present here.
Charlotte G.
1:25 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Todd you got it right, with this banner headline on patch. Yes, buried in the long reg. article, with the newest story on the release of other emails, was this tidbit concerning Wendt. Very interesting. I read that whole article, but only after skimming that paper in hand, and seeing a reference to Wendt. Then, I went back and read the whole thing. Problem is, I do not see why this reference to Wendt was ever included in this article at all, except to stir up any further controversy- here with him bailing, and leaving. Now, this banner headline on patch...Only seems to stir up further controversy. Fine. It wouldn't be surprising to know our supers here in the metro meet for breakfast meetings. Reading so, it made me, well, only hungry. I'd hate to think this meeting was any version of 50 shades of sebring. Not with my super. We all know here of his said arrogance, but what is the purpose of re-hashing now? Only bad board relations? Fine, I'm relieved in that. Really. Anything more to tell?
Kurt B.
8:31 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Good comments Charlotte. And, just to summarize .... Wendt has moved on ; Sebring is out ; let's move on. No sense in putting any more about these 2 in Patch or anywhere else.
Todd Richissin
9:34 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thanks Dan, Charlotte and Kurt: We haven't published Sebring's more salacious emails because we've felt they bring nothing to the Ankeny discussion. Her remarks on the Board and Wendt, though, give an inside look at the perspective of a former superintendent on a peer and an existing board. We think that has some value to people who care to have a glimpse at the inner workings of our education leaders, past and present. Your opinions are valid, and we appreciate them, and that's why I'm sharing our thinking on this.
Jack F
6:12 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Todd maybe the patch should do a little digging and get our boards emails about Wendt and see what they were discussing outside of public view. Closed door hundred thousand dollar deals. Maybe give us an inside look at our elected board and get a glimpse at their inner workings. How bout that?
Jessica Henderson
11:27 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I can see the Jerry Springer episode now!
Peter Brady
9:20 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Was Went dating Nancy S? Is he the guy in the emails?
Todd Richissin
9:23 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
No. He's not in the emails.
Peter Brady
9:28 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ok, well theres one thing he did right.
Jack F
4:18 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Peteee says he is not in the emails ... So there's one thing he did right. Wow.... He must be on this board or really just hate him. The world according to Pete... Elected officials have no responsibility for their goof ups. King George was just a poor fool that was taken advantage of by mean old supper... Golly gee Beaver.
Jim Zupan
11:21 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Mrs. Sebring was right about one thing - “he’s got a crazy board.” This I am affriad is an issue we are still going to have to deal with.
Martha J.
4:29 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ankeny does have a crazy board now. They are mostly inexperienced and many do not have any kids in the system anymore. All taxpayers should remember that Tracy, Shafer and Cahill (up for reelection in 2013) all voted for Wendt's payout, all voted for $4M in unneeded athletic enhancments while at the same time asking for another bond, and all voted for the largest staffing plan in the history of Ankeny schools. Our board has poor judgement and they are not fulfilling the platform they ran on.
Martha J.
4:31 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I listened to these characters during the last school election and they all said the Fab 4 were the problem. As I see it, they hoodwinked me and I am very angry that they and the new gang of 4 aren't controlling spending or lowering my taxes any quicker!