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The e-mail, sent last week to a former co-worker, referred to Roger Henderson, Ken Schlimgen and Dorrene Heider, all who were replaced on the school board last April.
“I had three board members who were contentious leave the board, hurrah, and I have three kind wonderful new board members!” wrote Burns in the e-mail.
Board members from the 2007-08 board — including Henderson, Schlimgen and Heider — were copied on the e-mail.
Burns said sending the e-mail to current and former board members was an accident, and she regrets doing so. She said she already personally apologized to two of the former board members and planned to contact the other as well.
“I made a digital mistake,” Burns said. “I feel bad about it, and I apologize.”
Burns was hired in August 2006. Henderson had been on the board since 2004, and Schlimgen and Heider were elected in 2005. During the last election, Henderson and Heider opted to not seek re-election, and Schlimgen lost a bid for another term; Linda Brown and Tom Ward, both previous board members, and Henry Althoff replaced them.
Burns said she doesn’t view the word “contentious” as a negative term as it can describe someone who frequently raises questions and wants additional information.
Schlimgen said he was more upset that Burns appeared happy they weren’t on the board anymore.
Heider said she thought Burns’ remark was unfair but accurately represented her personal feelings.
“She got rid of the ones she wanted to,” Heider said.
Matthew Perenchio is assistant editor at the Coulee News.
