IVINS — Vista School in Ivins introduced its new school director earlier this month, a move viewed as controversial by some parents who have students within the award-winning public charter school.
According to emails received by St. George News from parents with students in the school, frustrations include a mix of concerns about the new director’s background and the Vista School Board’s actions, including a lack of communication about the new hire. A chief concern among parents has to do with the nonrenewal of the previous Vista School director, Chris Barnum, who they said was well-liked.
However, no parents opted to publicly voice those frustrations at the Vista School Board meeting held Aug. 3, during which the board excitedly introduced Justin Blasko, an educational leadership and administration Ph.D, as the new director.
“The reason we chose Dr. Blasko for this position was because his experience in education stood out,” Vista School Board Chair Michelle Walter said in a press release issued Wednesday. “He has experience teaching at the elementary school level, as well as serving as a principal, an Assistant Superintendent, and a Superintendent.”
Parents’ frustrations with Blasko’s hire stem from the fact that he was at the center of an investigation within the Monroe School District in Washington state, where he was the district’s superintendent. He was placed on administrative leave in December 2021, ultimately resigning from the position July 20, 2022, with a $396,374.55 severance package.
The investigation was performed by the Seabold Group, a third-party agency hired to look into allegations of unprofessional ethics, intimidating and bullying behavior, gender bias and other professional violations. The investigation consulting services company stated within the investigation report that most of the allegations were “consistent” and that the investigator “credits the witnesses.”
The move by the Monroe School District Board to put Blasko on administrative leave was in the aftermath of a racially motivated incident involving an African American student who was hit in the head with a water bottle in November 2021.
After the Aug. 3 school board meeting, Blasko met with St. George News to discuss his background and plans for the public charter school as well as hear his response to the allegations.
Blasko was born in Ogden and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Weber State University, where he played football for the Wildcats in the 1990s. After moving to Washington state, he taught elementary and middle school grades and eventually became the principal of three different schools. He holds a master’s degree in education leadership from the City University of Seattle and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Seattle Pacific University.
Hired to be the human resources director for the Monroe School District in 2010, he was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2016. He was then promoted to superintendent in April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blasko told St. George News the Monroe School District holds a soft spot in his heart.
“I think COVID was a very challenging time for a lot of people,” he said in response to a question about the investigation and allegations.
He said the decisions the district had to make balancing a politically polarized community were not easy, during a time when some parents wanted their children back in school, while others did not.
“I really tried to center those decisions on kids, and sometimes that really didn’t go as well with adults,” he said.
He said he was proud to become superintendent and wanted to do a good job serving the community, but it ended sooner than he had hoped.
“I have learned a lot from that experience,” Blasko said. “Looking back, there are circumstances that I would do differently … Absolutely.”
He said one of his former bosses in the Monroe School District taught him that “the only mistake is a repeated mistake. Hindsight is 20/20.”
At this point, Blasko said he has to look forward, adding that he is honored and humbled to be at Vista School.
Blasko said he invites all parents to meet with him and he will be happy to address concerns.
Photo Gallery
Vista School Board Chair Michelle Walter discusses superintendents report during a school board meeting in Ivins, Utah, Aug. 3, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
Vista School introduces Justin Blasko as the school's new director during a school board meeting in Ivins, Utah, Aug. 3, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
Vista School in Ivins, Utah, Aug. 3, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
Vista School's new director, Justin Blasko, participates in a school board meeting in Ivins, Utah, Aug. 3, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
Vista School's new director, Justin Blasko, participates in a school board meeting in Ivins, Utah, Aug. 3, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News
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