A mid-morning August phone call to Dr. Bill Kraus was answered within the first few rings. Having recently resigned from his position as the executive director with the Tahoe Maritime Museum, he had time to talk.
‘I’m in a difficult spot,’ said Kraus, who also serves on the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Board of Trustees. ‘I was proud of what I accomplished there and I wish the museum well – that’s what I’d say on the record.’
Kraus submitted a resignation letter to the museum on August 5 – which he also submitted to the school district, making it public record. In it, he cites unpopular decisions made in his role as school board trustee as the catalyst for a strong-armed exit.
‘It has recently been brought to my attention,’ the letter reads, ‘that there is a perception by some individuals in the local community that my public service as a Trustee has had and may continue to have a detrimental effect on the museum.’
Over the course of the past year, the TTUSD board has made significant changes within the district, in response to national and regional issues. Budgets have been hacked and, in the process, a couple of schools were reconfigured. The reconfiguration, which has proved unpopular among a vocal contingent, has become a source of festering contention within the community. There are some that are disgruntled to the point that they have launched a petition for a recall of three trustees: Kraus, Bev Ducey and Board President Kristy Olk.
According to Kraus’ letter, unnamed individuals dissatisfied with his decisions as a Trustee convinced museum officials that the West Shore entity would be better off without him. It also states that he was told he could stay on at the museum if the school-district controversy subsided.
‘I was pretty blown away that something like this would happen,’ fellow TTUSD Board member Olk said.
For its part, the Museum issued a public statement in which President Tom Bredt regretfully informs that Kraus has ended his year-and-a-half stint at the helm due to ‘professional and personal reasons.’ It lauds Kraus’ ‘many significant contributions’ and ‘legacy to mark his presence.’
A May 31, 2009 annual review was likewise glowing: ‘Bill has taken a very complex role as Executive Director of the Museum and has done an outstanding job. We are extremely grateful for the passion, dedication and high level of competence he brings to the position. His work in the past 17 months has been exemplary. At the Board level, I have enjoyed very much working with him and know other board members share this view.’
When asked if the resignation was prompted by any outside influences with political interests, Bredt responded with an email: ‘We have no additional comments. You have our message to our members on his resignation.’
School board trustees are often placed in the line of fire when it comes to parents, their children and education. The threat of a recall, specifically, has created a fracture in the community. But the resignation has shocked those on both ends of the political spectrum.
‘It deeply troubles and saddens me that there are people we call neighbors that will stop at nothing to win, even if that means destroying someone’s ability to support their family,’ Ducey said in an email which has circulated in the community and was cited as a basic text on this issue by multiple people interviewed for this story.
Voices from the recall camp also expressed surprise at the turn of events. While they vehemently disagree with Kraus – as well as Ducey and Olk – on political grounds, recall proponents said they also would be disheartened to think those battles had seeped into the trustees’ professional lives.
‘That’s a sad thing for our community,’ said Robert Mowris, a recall proponent. ‘I feel for him.’
Rich Votaw, a parent and recall proponent, was also sympathetic to Kraus’ circumstances: ‘Bless his heart. He’s got kids to feed.’
Although those in the recall movement said they had no knowledge of anyone approaching the Museum in regards to Kraus, they wouldn’t rule out the chance of a private citizen upset with school board decisions acting on their own.
‘Bill Kraus created his own despair,’ Votaw said. ‘I don’t know anybody who talked to [the museum board members] about that at all. But I do know that when you act like – you’ve been to meetings, he’s got open contempt – what do you expect, somebody’s gonna get mad.’
Another recall proponent, Stan Scott, echoed that sentiment, adding that he had heard of several people renewing their museum membership after Kraus’ resignation.
Olk expressed concern that such a scenario could scare potential school board trustee candidates out of seeking public office.
‘My biggest fear,’ she said, ‘is who will step up to the job who doesn’t have any special interests when the community reacts this way?’
Kraus said he intends to continue serving his term on the school board, which began in 2006 and runs until 2010. That is, unless he is unable to find work in the area.
‘It’s tough, but that’s my problem,’ Kraus said, before treading into deeper waters. ‘This is getting philosophical – you know, everything happens for a reason. You have to use this as an opportunity.’
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