but is it?
The difference between right and wrong, principled and underhanded, ethical and immoral. To some this is easy, to others, not so much, and to most, it comes down to how they or ones they know will be affected.
This coming Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at 7PM, the Board of Education is holding a “Special Meeting”. This will be the third meeting/hearing regarding the removal of Ms. Ziegelbauer. It will be behind closed doors and most likely the Board will not allow public comment as the Board did not permit public comment at the last meeting/hearing.
Why is this important? It comes down to who is going to control the school. From all the complaints that taxpayers have, nothing will change unless they become involved. And this is the moment to begin voicing.
Ms. Ziegelbauer was going to be kicked off the Board from the get-go.
Before the new Board came to play, the previous Board conducted an investigation, and began proceedings, to remove Mr. Castricone from the Board. Dr. Valenti’s contract dissolved, and Ms. Scariano was put in charge of part of the investigation. When the Board turned over in July, the charges against Mr. Castricone were dropped, Mr. Valenti was rehired under the premise that he would create class schedules and complete the teacher union contract, and now Ms. Scariano has been released from her post in a very dishonorable public fashion.
Dr. Valenti was paid over $12,000 and never accomplished the class schedules or teacher union contract. One can assume that basically he was rehired as a kind-payback for keeping his mouth shut. Ms. Scariano unfortunately was part of the investigation to remove Mr. Castricone, and she also threw her hat into the ring to become superintendent, so we can assume everyone wanted her gone.
Then to get rid of Ms. Zeigelbauer. First came an investigation that began in August and cost the taxpayer up to $10,000. The investigation must have been a dud because the Board never mentioned it again and Ms. Zeigelbauer was still on the Board in September.
October comes and now the Board seems confident that they have two points they can use to remove Ms. Zeigelbauer, Charge I; Official Misconduct (sharing of an email via “reply all”), and Charge II; Official Misconduct (retained a confidential report concerning her family). Please read FOIL’ed to find out exactly what is being charged and what has gone on. Also read Opaque Transparency to learn more about the sharing of confidential information about her child, a student within the school district.
The district has spent approximately $27,000 to remove Ms. Zeigelbauer.
$12,000.00 (Dr. Valenti)
$10,000.00 (First investigation; Margaret Muenkel)
$320.00 (Stenographer)
$4,000.00 (Hearing officer; Carolyn Horrman)
To read more about this, please refer to Students, Special Ed, Folks at the School, Whistle-blowers.
Ms. Zeigelbauer has spent up to $50,000 out of her own pocket for personal defense.
Right now the strongest thing a taxpayer can do is to write a letter to the Board with support or non-support of Ms. Ziegelbauer, but the need for voices to be heard is now and that is the most direct way as there most likely will not be public comment at this “Special Meeting”. Use boe@tuxedoufsd.org to send in your thoughts.
More reasons to be concerned?
• Poor treatment of a public servant for 5.5 years
• Inexcusable treatment of a minor and student
• Safeguarding of employees who have shared confidential information
• Lack of transparency
How do you want this district to run? Or, better question, would you run to become a public servant after all this?