WAIMEA — The principal of Waimea Canyon Middle School has been removed from her position in the midst of increasing complaints from parents, teachers and students.
Last week, parents and teachers held a community meeting calling for the state Department of Education to remove Melissa Speetjens from her position, alleging she has mishandled bullying issues, neglected student safety and dismissed concerns about education quality at the school.
Daniel Hamada, Kauai complex area superintendent for the department, said at the meeting he would “look at the facts” by holding meetings with the school community council, faculty members and PTSA before making a decision.
Parents and teachers then held a protest at the school on Monday morning, where they continued to call for Speetjens to be ousted from her position.
Just hours after the rally, Hamada sent school faculty a letter announcing that Speetjens would be replaced by Ray Carvalho, who will serve as the school’s interim principal effective Aug. 1.
“Mr. Carvalho brings years of leadership experience at the elementary and high school levels. He has helped Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School make positive gains with middle school curriculum and put programs solidly in place.”
Hamada did not mention the mounting complaints against Speetjens and instead continued by thanking Speetjens for her time as principal.
“I would like to thank Principal Melissa Speetjens for her years of service at Waimea Canyon Middle School and look forward to her future success as she takes on a new position within the East Complex Schools.”
Krisyln Yano, a communications specialist with the state Department of Education, said the department could not provide any further details on Speetjens’ removal or her transfer to another school.
“Because this is a personnel matter, we cannot share additional details at this time,” Yano said.
The Garden Island reached out to Speetjens for comment, but she did not respond.
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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached 808-652-0638 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.
You have a life ahead of you kids. Work/make good and reward yourselves.
In my earlier years with the DOE I worked with Melissa at Chiefess Kamakahele when she served as Vice-Principal and that was 15 years ago. She was a problem then and now she has become an even bigger problem to the west side community. Its a shame that after all these years and numerous complaints she is still able to be at the school level.
Typical DOE kicking the can down the road; zero accountability. Sadly, according to shared information from teachers, there was close to a decade of complaints and staff resignations as a result of then Principal Speetjens. Student bullying issues and the chaos that Waimea Canyon Middle School faced on a daily basis were a direct result of her abuse of power and actions against teachers raising concerns. Her dismissal happened so abruptly because Danny Hamada and William Arakaki are culpable. Problems that aren’t solved, become bigger problems.