Some Parents See Conflict Of Interest

Betty Cheeley is an education consultant. When she speaks of “us,” she’s referring to teachers.

Parents involved in the curriculum process worry that she doesn’t represent a non-educator’s viewpoint, even though she was appointed as a “community representative” to the math curriculum committee.

They also say Cheeley has two potential conflicts of interest.

She works for a company that sells educational materials, and she’s married to a school board member.

Cheeley taught in the Coeur d’Alene School District for many years. Now, she supervises student teachers for the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College. She also gives math workshops as an employee of the California-based Center for Innovation in Education.

“I teach teachers, and we don’t sell any of our own stuff,” she said. “We ask them to have a book, which can be bought at any bookstore.”

Nothing the center sells is being considered for purchase by the Coeur d’Alene district, Cheeley said.

She bristled at the suggestion by Doug Burr and Simone Kincaid that she has a conflict of interest.

“They’re feeling threatened,” she said, referring to differences of opinion about the direction that math studies should take.

Burr is also uneasy that Cheeley’s husband, Herb Cheeley, belongs to the school board. The board gives final approval of curriculum choices.

“There’s an appearance of a conflict of interest,” he said. “She can talk about this over dinner.”

No one has questioned Cheeley’s credentials.

“I can see her sitting in and being an observer, a consultant,” said Kincaid. “But having a vote … that makes me really uncomfortable.”

District officials will look closely at Cheeley’s role on the curriculum committee, said administrator Hazel Bauman.

“We knew Betty had an interest in math, and we knew she’d be committed to it. It wasn’t in any way that her company would have an inside track,” said Bauman. “If that is a concern, I’ll ask her not to vote.”

, DataTimes MEMO: See related story under the headline: Stakes high in choosing math class