Let us try to unpack what happened at the most recent Board of Education meeting on July 8, 2021. Click here for video.
It was clear that there was going to be a change of power, that was evident from the previous meeting on July 1.
What we know from previous public meetings
A BOARD MEMBER IN QUESTION
- June 8, 2021 meeting a motion was made and passed by the Board
“Be it resolved that the board hereby directs the investigation by the school districts attorneys Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLP, regarding the facts and circumstances of allegations of official misconduct by a school district officer.” Click here for video. - June 17, 2021 meeting a motion was made and passed by the Board
“I would like to make a motion to authorize interim superintendent of schools Nicole Scariano to work with the BOCES superintendent to determine what options the district may have with the State of NY for the removal of a Board member.” Click here for video. - June 18, 2021 meeting a motion was made and passed by the Board
“Be it resolved that the Board hereby votes to prefer each of two charges of official misconduct against school district official #063021 as presented to the Board at this meeting a copy of said charges shall be maintained confidentially by the district clerk throughout the tendency of the hearing against said school district official.” Click here for video.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION
- June 16, 2021 meeting a motion was made and passed by the Board
“Be it resolved that the end of the activities of the consultant services of Dr. Ronald Valenti shall be under the direction of the interim superintendent of schools for the period ending on June 30th 2021.”
Click here for video.
RFP FOR NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY/COUNSEL
- June 8, 2021 discussion of creating an RFP for new district attorney/counsel. Click here for video.
- July 8, 2021 meeting, there is mention that the district attorney basically punted for a month on removal of a Board member for potential misconduct. Click here for video.
WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE JULY 8TH MEETING
- A contract to re-engage Dr. Valenti was added to the agenda last minute
- Dr. Valenti was instructed not to return to work in the district in June
- Last year the district needed Dr. Valenti because we had no superintendent and no HR person, we now have these posts filled
- Dr. Valenti apparently received confidential information and did not share it with the Board and didn’t share with the Board who he received this confidential information from
- Dr. Valenti breached his own contract while working in the district this past year
- Dr. Valenti had lied to the Board in the past year
- Dr. Valenti pursued potential employees who had worked here in the past without Board authorization
- Dr. Valenti has lost trust with Board members
- Dr. Valenti can’t do a schedule on computer, it would have to be a hand schedule
- The district has Ms. Scariano who has all the same institutional knowledge that everyone is asking for with Dr. Valenti, so why pay an extra $1000 a day for a redundant post?
- The district counsel introduced Dr. Valenti to our district. It seems clear that the attorneys favor Dr. Valenti and have shielded him. Is the counsel working in the best interest for our district or for Dr. Valenti?
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE LINKS
http://tpfyi.com/tufsd.html#top