Meetings of December 15, 1999, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16, 2000
by
Stewart Lilker
December
15, 1999
Ciaglia Granted Tenure
The December 15th School Board meeting
began in the Atkinson auditorium with the public being serenaded by Ms.
Wickstein’s fifth grade chorus. After the chorus completed their
caroling, Board VP Renken presided over the meeting in the absence of
President Grover. The Board approved the minutes of October 13th, November
17th and December 1, 1999. When VP Renken was asked if there had
"been any other meetings," he responded, "Open Board
Meetings. NO. Executive Sessions. No." Dr. Anthony Ciaglia, the
acting Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, was rewarded for three
years of falling test scores and under achievement by being granted tenure
by the School Board. Other than this reporter, only two people spoke out
against the granting of tenure to the undistinguished Dr. Ciaglia. After
being confronted by Dr. Ciaglia’s dismal record, local resident, Alan
Jay was the only one in the audience of over one hundred and fifty people
who spoke in favor of Dr. Ciaglia’s tenure, saying that he thought Dr.
Ciaglia was doing a good job. Unannounced School Board candidate, Sunday
Coward, was surprisingly silent on the subject. The issue of Dr. Ciaglia
and his record as Asst. Supt. of Curriculum and Records Access Officer is
the subject of an "EYE ON" investigation by FreeportNYNews.The
Board, as usual keeping the public in the dark, refused to make available
to the public the Treasurer’s Report and the High School Funds Report.
January
19, 2000
Hall of Fame Coach Gets Cold Shoulder
The first meeting of the new millennium on
January 19, 2000 did not bode well for the residents of the district.
Board President Grover refused to show any of the residents the Board
minutes being approved, those of December 15, 1999, January 5th and
January 12,2000. He refused to show anybody the new contract negotiated
with the teacher’s union. Incredibly, President Grover even refused to
make available to anybody the 39.8 million dollar Bond Referendum
Resolution. A careful examination of the Bond Resolution clearly shows
why. It is difficult to read and the poling places are a mystery. The
Board, as usual, sat silent as Grover abused the public. It would appear
that this Board does not know who pays the taxes that fund the district.
The residents also discovered that four principals are retiring, as well
as Hall of Fame Wrestling Coach, Terry Haise. Terry Haise, a respected and
well loved member of the Freeport School community, appears to have
volunteered his talents as wrestling coach, only to have been turned down
by the autocratic Board VP Renken. After interviewing many people in the
district, it appears that VP Renken was jealous of Haise’s popularity.
The loss of Terry Haise to the district cannot be measured in dollars and
cents. Two of the unsung heroes of the district, custodial staff members
Charles Walker and Jose Rodriguez are retiring after more that forty eight
years of combined services. These folks make the district look good.
"I'm Putting My House Up For Sale"
During the general question session of the
meeting, residents spoke of their disapproval of the Polls opening at 12
p.m.. One resident, who asked FreeportNYNews not to publish his name, for
fear of retaliation from the District or the Village, told FreeportNYNews
that, "They have finally pushed me over the edge. I’m putting my
house up for sale and moving to where there is a real school district, one
that respects its residents and maintains high standards." When this
reporter suggested that this was the Board’s last chance to propose a
resolution changing the voting times, Grover balked, making sure residents
cannot vote before they go to work. The rest of the Board sat silent, with
no thoughts of their own. Go
to School Bond 2000 Resolution.
February
16, 2000
Honor
Society Inductions - Principal MIA
Moffett Goes Mute
The February 16, 2000 Board meeting began
with Superintendent Moffett, once again, showing the same tired Bond
Referendum 2000 video. The District’s twenty year veteran employees were
honored along with the community service volunteers, who work selflessly
with out pay to improve the district. The induction of the new members of
the class of 2000 into the National Honor Society, honored those students
who have excelled, despite the adversity in the High School. High School
Principal, Dr. Northover, was pregnant by her absence. No excuse was
given.
Your reporter pointed out to
Superintendent Moffett, that in a letter written to NYS Senator Fuschillo,
she stated that, "Draft minutes of Board of Education meetings have
always been made available to the public with two weeks." When Supt.
Moffett was asked why it took three months to produce the minutes of
November 10, 1999 and November 22, 1999 she went mute, deferring to
District Clerk Bediako, who as usual was unintelligible and had to repeat
herself to be understood. Your reporter also asked VP Renken how he came
up with the $200,000 figure he gave the Leader regarding my appeals to the
Commissioner. (The relevant portions of the appeal regarding the School
Boards Secret meetings is being published on the web as time permits.)
FreeportNYNews has been told that my answer to Grover and Renken’s
accusations is being printed this week. My February 18, 2000, Letter to
the Editor: You Be The Judge is also being published here, in case you
missed the Leader. The 310 Secret Meeting Appeal to the Commissioner can
also be found in FreeportNYNews.
