Newark School board locks horns
By John Zornow

Gloria Matias's school board seat will not be filled this year. Matias resigned effective June 11.

Motions made during Wednesday's school board meeting failed to carry, resulting in no decision on the vacancy. Board President David Howard reviewed the options available, including:

appointment of the next highest vote-getter in the June election,

appointments based upon applications from the public,

holding another district vote,

or doing nothing.

Board member Russ Harris made a motion to invite applications for the position, which was seconded by Nancy Rohlin. That motion failed to pass, with some board members feeling that taking applications was not a normal process for choosing new board members.

Member Dave Honness then made a motion, with Jeff Snow seconding, to appoint the third highest recent vote getter, Dr. Louis Jasper. Honness indicated in a prepared statement that "the recent district vote clearly had defined the standing of each candidate in the voters' minds, while at the same time indicating their acceptance of the four candidates." This motion also failed to pass.

Howard proposed a district election to fill the seat. This motion failed due to the lack of a second. As a result, the position will remain vacant.

Dr. Jasper, who was present at the meeting, said during a break that the lack of consensus indicates a political fracture in the current board. Jasper explained that he became active to support parent/student issues and will continue to work in that direction.

In earlier public comment, Arcadia resident Jim Hurley addressed the board with concerns about phone calls made at the high school before the Republican caucus. Prior to Hurley's comments, Howard read a prepared board comment indicating that an employee had admitted making phone calls (to potential caucus voters) and had been reprimanded. Because it was a personnel issue, no further comment could be made.

Hurley kept asking questions, wanting to know who asked that employee (not an Arcadia resident) to make the calls. Hurley then produced a form given to callers. "Who gave this person the form? Who asked her to make the calls?"

Howard advised Hurley to supply any or all evidence to the board concerning the incident, reminding him that the employee had already been disciplined according to district policy.

Hurley asked School Superintendent Robert Christmann to apologize to Michael and Ange DeJohn for comments allegedly made by Christmann to the DeJohns during the recent caucus. Howard explained that Christmann is a district employee and would be covered under the same personnel guidelines as any other employee.

Teacher Eileen Healy and student Laci Kenville presented 1999 yearbooks to the board members. These books were created by two classes in Marketing Publications as a test site for the publisher.

A letter from Peter Blandino, representing the Newark Village Board, was read, requesting a meeting with the board or a representative concerning Perkins Park. It was decided that more information is needed as to why the meeting was requested.

Other board action:

* Approved tenure for the following teachers.

Lucille Aranzullo, Elaine Burns, Mark DeYoung, Juliana Hemmings, and Karen Taber.

* Approved 1999 recommendations by the Committe on Special Education, as well as the Committee on Preschool Special Education.

* Accepted resignations of the following teachers, all effective prior to the start of the new school year: Louis Jaquin, Philip Solano, and Robert Lepage. The board also accepted the resignation of switchboard operator Marion Holland.

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