School News

SUPERINTENDENT MOFFETT RESIGNS?

by Stewart Lilker

Josephine Moffett, Freeport School District Superintendent, is rumored to be resigning from the District. Yesterday, June 1st, a School Board member, who asked not to have their name used, was asked, "Is it true that Superintendent Moffett is resigning effective July 1st?" This Board member responded, "I can’t say anything. I guess we will just have to wait until July 1st to see what happens." At 1 p.m., in a phone call to a highly placed secretary in the district’s administrative offices, FNYN asked, "There is a rumor going around the district that the Superintendent has resigned. Is this true?" The secretary responded, "It is my understanding that she has been offered a job in another district. To the best of my knowledge she hasn’t resigned or submitted a letter of resignation, yet."

Josephine Moffett’s tenure began in Freeport in July of 1996, after a split Board vote. Before the vote and after intense behind the scenes maneuvering, I gave a resolution to the Board, which would have given the Board the authority to begin another search for a superintendent. [Go to Resolution]. Board member Ellerbe lead the successful charge to squash the Resolution, in the end being joined only by Dorothy Fox.

When it came to the final vote, the then newly elected Board President Renken voted against Moffett. Grover, who himself was just voted in as Board VP with a split vote, abstained from the vote for the reason that "he hadn’t seen the final contract." Two months later it was decided that Grover abstained for a different reason, although that reason wasn't disclosed.

As time passed, Renken and Grover embraced the new superintendent. Although Moffett’s original contract stated that she had to move to Nassau County from Riverdale, in a mysterious meeting out of the public eye, the Board relieved her from that obligation. Then, in November of 1997, with no public warning or discussion, the Board amended her contract and gave her a raise. [Go to Moffett’s Contracts].

Six months later, without warning and without any public announcement, the Board unanimously determined to renegotiate a new contract with Superintendent Moffett, giving her vastly improved benefits, including automatic pay increases, automatic unearned merit pay increases, a six hundred dollar a month car allowance, a $5000 annuity program, a $25,000 per year life insurance policy, and a $2000 expense account. Finally, in what could only be considered a total endorsement, the Board agreed to pay for the Superintendent's Ph.D. Rumor has it Moffett finally earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University this March.

Superintendent Moffett, along with Renken and Grover, appeared on television with Richard Mills, the Commissioner of Education. During this television program, Mills complemented Renken and Grover on the great job they were doing. The highest accolades were saved for Moffett, as Renken and Grover, as well as the Commissioner, heaped praise on her for the wonderful job she was doing.

Despite severe public criticism, the Board has unfailingly defended Moffett at every opportunity. Despite the dismal scores on the School Report Cards, the Board claims that under Moffett’s tenure, the district was improving. Despite the controversy revolving around Dr. Northover, the Board stood behind her in her support of Northover.

Finally, in what surely must be considered an unequivocal vote of support, the Board allowed the Superintendent to take the time to obtain her Ph.D. and had the residents pay for it.

(editorially speaking)
With the investment made in this superintendent, how can the Board in good conscience accept Moffett’s resignation? Do Renken, Grover and the rest of the Board think the residents of this district are the world’s biggest chumps? There is no resignation clause in her contract. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in her and her education. Because she finally gets a Ph.D., she shouldn’t be allowed to break her contract and make a run for the hills.

Superintendent Moffett has the undying support of the Board. The Board should see that she fulfills her obligation to the residents of this district and not be allowed to be a quitter. Commissioner Mills has demanded more from the students of this state. The Freeport Board of Education should demand the same from its Superintendent.