On Oct. 6, a committee of Jordan-Elbridge citizens presented the school board with a list of 58 questions. The board recently submitted their responses, though many concerns remain unaddressed. “There’s not much there,” said Mary Jo Wick, who headed up the committee, noting that the responses were neither signed nor written on school letterhead. The first question asked who initiated the removal of Janice Schue, Bill Hamilton, David Zehner, Anthony Scro, Brad Hamer, adding, “What is the reason for their dismissal, including the forced resignation of Mrs. Dominick?” The board’s response: “Because of the nature of ongoing investigations and procedures, we are not able to give details about each of the employees you’ve mentioned. The board’s new attorney, Mr. Frank Miller, did provide you with a copy of the 3020A regulations and a copy of the Commissioner’s Decision that admonishes the board members to keep confidentiality and rejects the interpretation of [executive director of the state’s Committee on Open Meetings] Robert Freeman.” The board’s response to the question’s follow-up, “Why have [employees] been suspended, fired, or moved?” was nothing new: “We are not legally authorized to comment on reasons for personnel actions.” The committee also asked if charges had been filed against suspended administrators, garnering this response: “If filed, 3020A charges are always filed in executive session. That information is privileged.” Following the Oct. 20 school board meeting, David Zehner, who was suspended with pay in September, said charges were recently filed against him, but declined to comment on their specifics. “There’s not much there,” he said.
With lawsuits being filed against the school district left and right, the committee naturally asked who was representing the district, and at what pay rate. The board cited Mevec and Cognetti (during transition), Frank Miller (general counsel), James Hughes (construction law), and BOCES attorney Randy Ray (teachers’ contract), adding that their fees range from $125 to $165 per hour. To the question, “How many billable hours have been submitted by Danny Mevec in the last 24 months?” the board responded: “This answer would take some time to be accurate, but I would place it in the range of 1,500 hours over two years.” In responding to all 58 questions, the board cleared up some concerns unrelated to personnel that were raised at the initial initial meeting of community members following Zehner’s suspension. One of those concerns was, Where are the school buses whose purchase was approved by the public in May? The board’s response: “We are on schedule with the bus purchases. We have generally accepted delivery between November and the end of March. It will be November this year. Money comes from a capital reserve fund, tax revenue and from borrowing against aid that will flow in from the state.” The JE Board of Education will meet in executive session at 7 p.m. tonight in the high school library. No meeting agenda has been posted to the school’s website. Read the submitted document, with all 58 responses, here.