Bit by Bit instructor escorted off campus

Milliman hopes resignation will shed light on staffing problems

By Joy Hampton The Claremore Daily Progress Thu Sep 03, 2009, 11:26 AM CDT

September 3, 2009 — Bit by Bit Interim Director and Head Instructor Trista Milliman tendered a conditional resignation dated Aug. 20 stating she would resign effective Sept. 4 if a new part-time instructor was not hired for the growing program.

On Aug. 31, Dr. Ray Brown, Vice President for Economic and Community Development, arrived and told her it was her last day, said Milliman. She was escorted off campus.

In response to the flurry of outrage in the community on her behalf, Milliman is quick to reassure that Brown was following RSU procedure.

“This is the pattern RSU follows all the time. It wasn’t personal, it’s just what they do,” said Milliman. “Dr. Brown came in Monday and told me that would be my last day. I had to do my exit interview and I was escorted off the grounds.”

Still, the former instructor is disappointed the university did not support her request for more staff. Disappointed, but not surprised. She said requests for further staffing seemed to have fallen on deaf ears for the past two years.

“We’ve gone to the university several times with our concerns and our needs and they’ve ignored it,” said Milliman. “I am willing to sacrifice my job in order to bring these problems to light.”

Bit by Bit serves special needs students from 3 years old to age 55. Schools, therapists and special programs refer the students to the program.

“We work on their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, balance, and coordination,” said Milliman. “Physical and occupational needs are addressed. We put them on horseback. They ride. We address their physical disabilities with the use of the horses. We work on cognitive skills, also. I’m an instructor through NARHA — the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.”

The local program has doubled in size, said Milliman. Last year it went from around 50 students to 86 students and 13 horses served by only three full-time staff.

“Last year, I was the only certified instructor on staff because our equine manager was sick,” said Milliman. “Our director from last year was not NARHA certified. She was working on her certification but I had to be at every class.”

Milliman said she could not bear the idea of a repeat of last year’s work load.

“It was an overload. I worked 13 hour days and I was actually only considered part-time,” said Milliman. “They only decided this last February to put me on full-time. Then our director resigned in March. That left me as head instructor and interim director of the program. I’ve been interim all summer long.”

This year there are 80 students and 20 horses. More horses is better but it also means more animals to care for and manage.

“Eighty students is a huge load,” said Milliman. “We teach four days. Our riding classes start at 9:30 in the morning and we teach through until the last class ends at 7:45 at night.”

“I’m not going to compromise the safety of those kids. I’m not going to compromise the safety of my instructors,” said Milliman. “We’ve been understaffed at Bit by Bit for a while. This was my last ditch effort to get more help.”

“The program will continue as always,” said Brown. “We are dedicated to bringing a first class program which serves the needs of the children.”

Brown said the university continues its search for a new director and that interviews have been underway. He said they will also be looking for another full-time instructor to replace Milliman.

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