Firing of deaf school’s director raising tensions

SALEM – Members of the deaf community say they are frustrated with the recent dismissal of Oregon School for the Deaf’s director Jane Mulholland.

About 40 people, including parents of students, recently met with state officials to discuss Mulholland, who was dismissed last week from the job she held since 1999.

George Scheler, a member of Oregon Association of the Deaf Inc., said Mulholland was respected and supported by those involved with the school. He said the Department of Education’s decision to terminate Mulholland broke trust in the deaf community.

“You have one big battle on your hands,” Scheler said to Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis.

Dennis said he could not comment on specific personnel issues regarding Mulholland, which angered many.

Others questioned whether the decision to fire Mulholland stemmed from ongoing discussions in the Legislature to move the Oregon School for the Blind onto OSD’s campus in Northeast Salem.

Dennis said the decision was not related to any discussions to combine the schools. He said his staff was looking into whether that option would be feasible and will have more information by mid-February but made his decision to fire Mulholland separately.

Dot Johnson, an OSD alumni and deaf advocate, said she worked for the Texas School for the Deaf, which was considered its own school district with a separate board. Johnson said a similar structure should be considered in order to allow more sensitivity toward deaf culture.