Memo From Administrators’ Rep Warns Of ‘Legal Action’ Against School Bd.

By John Voket

A letter from the school district administrators’ attorney to Superintendent Janet Robinson is being perceived by several Board of Education members as a threat of legal action against them. The March 27 memo is also being regarded as a setback to school board Chairman Debbie Leidlein’s efforts to foster greater trust and transparency related to school district operations and management.

But the attorney who produced the letter, apparently under the direction of the school district administrators’ union representative Anthony Salvatore, said the message should serve as a reminder to both the school board and district officials.

Dr Salvatore, who is the Sandy Hook School assistant principal, could not be reached by phone to comment because of school vacation, and Dr Robinson was also traveling. But attorney Kevin Deneen, who represents the Newtown administrators’ bargaining unit told The Bee April 18 that generally, all communication between school board members and administrators, or any members of either group, must be initiated and conducted by or through a superintendent.

“School boards have a right to get information [from administrators],” Mr Deneen said. “But it is the superintendent’s role as CEO of the district to manage that relationship.”

Mr Deneen said his role, and the motivation behind the letter, was to protect administrators so they would not be exposed “either advertently or inadvertently to prejudice or conflict.”

The letter states, “It has come to my attention that individual Board of Education members have been contacting and directing inquiries and orders directly to members of the administrators’ association. This is clearly beyond the scope of the board members’ authority.”

Mr Deneen wrote that according to the Connecticut Teacher Negotiations Act, individual dealing with association members whether by the superintendent or members of the board is prohibited. The letter closes with the statement: “Prior to instituting any legal action regarding these issues, I would be happy to discuss these matters with you [Dr Robinson] and or the district’s counsel.”

Ms Leidlein said that the letter was received by Dr Robinson and brought to her attention shortly after board vice chair and Policy Committee members Laura Roche and John Vouros asked to meet with district Athletic Director Gregg Simon.

Ms Roche said the letter’s timing was coincidental because it came shortly after their meeting. And she said that it appears her and Mr Vouros’s attempts to learn about some of the operational aspects of the district’s athletic department were interpreted as either inquisitional or an attempt to direct orders to administrators.

‘Policies Are Fine’

Ms Roche said she and Mr Vouros were motivated to visit Mr Simon after they heard accusations about bullying during a school board event, but did so to educate themselves so they could “do a better job in our position as Policy Committee members.” Those charges are part of a formal investigation ongoing within the district.

The meeting with Ms Roche and Mr Vouros was held in the presence of Newtown High School Principal Charles Dumais.

“One of the last things I asked during that meeting was if Mr Simon needed our assistance, or if there were any new policies he was interested in us helping him with,” Ms Roche said. “[Mr Simon] said he wasn’t interested in developing any new policies. He said the policies that are already in place are fine.”

While Ms Roche and Mr Vouros insist they did not request the meeting with any intent to direct administrators, Ms Roche did send an e-mail shortly after she left the high school detailing points of information that were not available during the meeting, but verbally promised to the Policy Committee members as follow-up.

“What’s frustrating is we’re all supposed to be on the same team,” Ms Roche said. “This letter says to me, ‘stay out of our business.’ And it was sent by a lawyer to the superintendent and Debbie.”

Ms Roche said a growing contingent of town residents and parents have been very insistent that the board should be more aggressive in fostering transparency and creating a greater sense of trust between the board and district personnel.

“I’m afraid the perception among taxpayers is that we have the power to get those things done, but when we try, we get slapped on the hand,” Ms Roche said. “Gregg [Simon] and Chip [Dumais] didn’t say ‘no’ to the meeting. I didn’t think it was contentious — I learned a lot from Gregg. But now it seems I won’t be allowed to educate myself about policies [by talking informally with staff], and I’m the Policy Committee chair. I don’t know where to go from here.”

Ms Leidlein said when she was presented with the lawyer’s memo in a meeting with Dr Robinson and Dr Salvatore, she came away with the belief that “district administrators didn’t want to speak directly with board members, and that they want all questions addressed through their superintendent.”

Referring to what was described as the “informal meeting” with Mr Simon, Ms Leidlein said the Policy Committee members “did not feel the superintendent was required to be part of the process.”

A Trust Issue

The school board chair said she understands the message in Mr Deneen’s letter, as well as the board members’ desire to become better educated so they “could do a better job on behalf of the children.” But she said there appears to be “a trust issue” developing.

“It looks like because there’s a trust issue, everybody’s got their guard up. But it shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing when board members want to learn, and individual members want to take the initiative to learn,” Ms Leidlein said. “After the meeting with Gregg and Chip, I spoke to John [Vouros] and Laura [Roche] and they felt it was a good meeting. My understanding was the athletic director was fine with it.”

Ms Leidlein said in networking with school board members outside of Newtown, she has learned that some districts welcome school board members who want to interact with teachers and administrators. But she believes the letter on behalf of district administrators is a signal that “walls are being put up.”

Committed To

Transparency

Despite the legal directive and the threat of legal action, Ms Leidlein said she is as committed as ever to increase transparency between the school system and Newtown parents and taxpayers.

“I feel like walls are being put up, but we have to continue doing what is right,” Ms Leidlein said. “We have to work within the guidelines or regulations, but we are still being diligent and asking questions.”

The school board chairman said she does not view the lawyer’s letter as drawing a line in the sand, and Ms Leidlein was unclear as to how many administrators supported the directive and tone of the letter.

“I don’t know how many administrators were supporting the letter [being written]. I don’t know what the process is for initiating this type of action,” Ms Leidlein said.

Ms Leidlein said parents and taxpayers expect to have questions being directed by her or board members to or through the superintendent, as well as information about issues of concern to the entire school community or groups of its parents, being shared in a timely fashion.

“This board is working on greater transparency,” Ms Leidlein said, “and up to now we are not getting answers [in a timely fashion]. In some cases we’re being hamstrung.”

The administrators’ attorney said, however, that the letter serves as a reminder to all parties about the law, and such a letter would serve to protect well-meaning administrators, or those who may feel compelled to directly respond to board members queries.

Mr Deneen said such action could “create tension and bad feelings,” if an administrator speaks to one or several board members, while other board members are left out of the conversation because it is not being held in an open meeting, or under the direction of the superintendent.

Ms Leidlein countered that she was told the administrators’ contract prohibits Dr Robinson from requiring administrators to be at night meetings. She said that makes it even harder, and it takes much longer when volunteer board members address concerns because they have to wait for extended periods of time get answers.

“The board members just want to do their jobs better,” Ms Leidlein said. On that Mr Deneen agreed.

“It is a function of the Board of Education to reach out to gather information and become better educated,” he said. “But it is the superintendent who arranges for board and committee members to meet with administrators.”