Plainfield's Board of Ed kept residents, teachers and journalists waiting for an unexpected two and a half hours at Monday's special board meeting while they delved into 'personnel matters' (see notice of meeting here, PDF). The REALLY INTERESTING STUFF was taking place out of sight.
Three times the Board sent someone to notify the crowd that deliberations were not yet over (see Maria's riff on that here, and Bernice here). While it was a decent gesture, it hardly mollified those waiting, many of whom had not been home for dinner yet due to the early hour (6:00 PM) of the meeting.
When the Board finally convened at about 8:30, I noticed at once that Dr. Gallon was not at the table -- though his car was in the parking lot. I was told by a former Board member sitting nearby that Gallon's absence meant the Board would be unable to take any action since all Board actions have to be 'upon the recommendation of the Superintendent'.
Sure enough, Board President Lenny Cathcart made a one sentence statement that 'no action would be taken', and the meeting was summarily adjourned.
Rumors had been circulating throughout the day -- that the Jane Does were to be put out of their misery by the Board, that Dr. Gallon was trying to negotiate a settlement in exchange for his departure, that the state's investigative findings (from OFAC) were in and NOT good (for more, see Renata's blog here).
Most damning -- and FATAL, by my lights, IF TRUE -- is the rumor that Dr. Gallon had allowed a District administrator to use Gallon's South Plainfield home address to falsely register their child (or children) in the South Plainfield Public Schools while not legally resident in that borough.
Dr. Gallon needs to get out in front of this rumor immediately and quash it if it is not true.
For if it is, it means that he has broken the most fundamental bond of trust needed between a school district's chief administrator and the taxpayers, parents, teachers and students of the district -- that of unreserved support of the public school system that has employed him or her.
If it turns out to be true, it is not only a violation of our trust, it has possible legal repercussions, since the deception may be actionable at law by the South Plainfield schools.
If true, this situation, added to the lack of judgment exercised in the whole certifications imbroglio involving Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, would put Dr. Gallon in a morally untenable position.
If the state's OFAC findings point to fraudulent dealings in the hirings, Dr. Gallon, who made the recommendation to hire the Jane Does to the Board, would find himself also possibly in the state's crosshairs.
It is in Dr. Gallon's best interest to dispense these rumors with facts as quickly as he can, if he can.
If he cannot do so to the Board's, the public's and the state's satisfaction, the Board of Ed needs to dig in its heels -- out of its fiduciary duty to the taxpayers -- and JUST SAY NO.
It is unfortunate for Board members facing re-election this spring that all of this is coming to a head as we roll into the election season.
They are likely to be judged on their support for Dr. Gallon up to this point -- however well-intentioned or ill-informed -- and to be found wanting by the voters.
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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9 comments:
Why are we still debating this nonsense? Gallon and the Board have both failed us. Ditch Gallon now and come April send this BOE the same message voters sent Corzine in November. This mess is why we never move forward in Plainfield. The utter incompetence goes unaddressed both at City Hall and the BOE.
Dan,
OFAC hasn't completed their report, the Board can't offer Gallon a buyout without it first being approved by the Education Commissioner, and yes, there were TWO administrators who used Gallon's address in South Plainfield so their children could enroll.
Arnold Diaz questioned him on that last week. Suddenly those children were removed. The OPRA request for their records was denied, but the request claimed it was "confidential pupil information" which tells me that they were pupils, no?
There is so much more to come.
Just a comment on using OPRA -- it's really more like a scalpel than a chain saw.
Of course student records are confidential, but wouldn't a request for action(s) on unspecified non-resident students in the current school year result in a public record (even if redacted)?
Dan,
The Board attorney was copied on the e-mail. What was requested was registration and withdrawal information. Here was the answer: "Mr. Guarini has asked that I notify you that your reguest for the registration and withdrawal records of S.K. and R.K is hereby denied. Said records are considered confidential pupil records which are exempt from disclosure under OPRA."
That's all I can tell you.
Wake me up when this nightmare is over. Does Gallon come in pint sizes because he sure is acting like one.
BUYOUT?
Did somebody really say buyout?
If the outrageous behavior that is alleged really occurred, simple firing seems more appropriate.
Wow-Just when I thought maybe I would enroll my children in the public schools, this mess gets worse. I don't even know what to say. I had such high hopes for improvements in the PPS. We must come together and demand better for our kids. This is pathetic!
Please do not let the actions of the superintendent reflect the teaching that goes on in the Plainfield public schools. I thought there for almost 20 years are recently changed schools due to relocation. I am currently teaching in another district. The teaching that goes on in WONDERFUL! The teachers esp. at the younger level are wonderful!! Hopefully the BOE can finally get things straightened out and get "him" out of there!
Anonymous
We all should have known this was trouble when our kid had to share book, unable to take them home and in some cases @ Evergreen NO books. Don't we understand that our KIDS are our future why are we keeping them down. No books but a fabulous facility for the Board of ED . . . go figure!
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