Ethics, Anyone?

We have a situation in Smithtown that stinks--a candidate is running for a seat on the SCSD Board--and some believe she is ineligible.

She submitted petitions on April 18th, but, on that date she was ineligible to serve. Policy states the candidate must be eligible at the time of filing. Serving as a district employee bars service on the BOE.

The candidate had her first retirement from teaching in the SCSD accepted by the BOE in November 2009 effective on July 1, 2010, then, on January 11, 2011, she was again hired as a permanent, certified, per diem substitute teacher in Special Education. The second retirement was accepted at the April 28th BOE meeting, after the petition filing date.

This candidate also served on the Smithtown Teachers Association (STA) Executive Committee as Secretary. There is no problem with her holding this position on the STA, but when putting the pieces together, the picture doesn't look good.

The district is in negotiations (actually mediation) with the STA union and two other unions, now.  Is this the time to put a former union exec on our School Board?

Maybe what you want to see is an extended contract? If the board flips members, no doubt there will shortly be a new contract with sweet deals for the STA.

As it is, the SCSD will have a hard time getting thru each of the next several years without deep concessions from the union and a change in the pension system. Another season of 8% increases will seriously damage Smithtown's ability to continue to give our children an excellent education.

Is this what we need?