NCSD Board President returns to the fold following last month’s resignation
NORWICH – Following the March meeting of the Norwich City School District Board of Education that led to the acceptance of one board member’s resignation and the tabling of two others, the NCSD board met again Tuesday for its regular monthly board meeting during which members addressed some of the issues facing the board for the remainder of school year.
The NCSD board was met with one vacancy and two pending vacancies at the end of a board meeting held March 28, when members accepted an anticipated letter of resignation from former board member Joseph McBride and subsequently voted to table two unexpected resignations from Board Vice President Linda Horovitz and Board President Heather Fredenburg. Tabling those two resignations afforded Horovitz and Fredenburg the opportunity to reclaim their seats on the board before their terms officially end, should they so choose.
Fredenburg did rejoin the board Tuesday night, resuming her role in the president’s chair for the remainder of her term, which ends June 30. Horovitz, however, declined, holding to her allegations that the school board violated open meeting rules and procedures during a February board meeting when members entered an executive session that resulted in the renewal of school Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan’s contract - an action Horovitz said should have been on the meeting agenda. Fredenburg was not present at that meeting, and action should not have been taken as per school board governance regulations, she added.
The first order of business at Tuesday’s meeting was to address the vacancy left by McBride.
“We have three options,” explained Superintendent O’Sullivan. “We can hold a special election ... we can appoint someone ... or we can leave it vacant.”
O’Sullivan noted that the board had received a letter of interest for the position from former Chenango County Judge W. Howard Sullivan. Board members voted unanimously to appoint Sullivan, followed by a second unanimous vote to appoint Sullivan as an interim board member to fill McBride’s seat for the remainder of the term, which ends June 30.
The seat left empty by Horovitz will remain empty; her term also set to expire June 30. The board, with Sullivan taking part, voted to accept Horovitz’s resignation, meaning three board positions will be up for grabs when the community votes on May 21. Two seats carry a three-year term, while the remaining seat carries a one-year term.
Prior to acceptance of her resignation, Horovitz made one last plea that the board “seriously consider” her allegations that they have acted unjustly and that they also limit their closed door meetings.
Despite the shake-up caused by unanticipated board vacancies, it was not the only controversy addressed at Tuesday’s meeting. A written request to enter executive session to discuss matters pertaining to one employee and the school district was submitted by the three representatives of the school district’s three different educational unions - a request initially denied by board members but revisited during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Norwich Educational Organization (NEO) Representative Eric Cunningham addressed the board during the public comments session.
“We have asked to meet with you to meet some of our concerns,” he said, adding that he was also commenting on behalf of the other two unions. He said the board should hear the concerns of NEO as well as the other two unions as they pertain to “important matters.”
Board Member Perry Owen, who said he felt “blindsided” by the request, clarified his sentiment that the meeting wait until next month’s board meeting for “due consideration.”
Ultimately, board members did approve an executive meeting with the district’s three union representatives, pressured to do so by the union representatives as well as others who spoke during public comment.
“When you refuse to meet with three union reps, you refuse to listen,” said community member Don Chirlin. “That’s part of your responsibility ... you are here to listen.”
Chirlin also claimed the board spends too much time on personal issues and not enough time with academic issues.
No action was taken after executive session.
Petition packets for Norwich City School District residents who plan to run for the Board of Education are currently available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the office of the District Clerk, located at the District Office, 89 Midland Drive. Completed petitions with 100 signatures of qualified voters must be returned to the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on May 1.
The NCSD board was met with one vacancy and two pending vacancies at the end of a board meeting held March 28, when members accepted an anticipated letter of resignation from former board member Joseph McBride and subsequently voted to table two unexpected resignations from Board Vice President Linda Horovitz and Board President Heather Fredenburg. Tabling those two resignations afforded Horovitz and Fredenburg the opportunity to reclaim their seats on the board before their terms officially end, should they so choose.
Fredenburg did rejoin the board Tuesday night, resuming her role in the president’s chair for the remainder of her term, which ends June 30. Horovitz, however, declined, holding to her allegations that the school board violated open meeting rules and procedures during a February board meeting when members entered an executive session that resulted in the renewal of school Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan’s contract - an action Horovitz said should have been on the meeting agenda. Fredenburg was not present at that meeting, and action should not have been taken as per school board governance regulations, she added.
The first order of business at Tuesday’s meeting was to address the vacancy left by McBride.
“We have three options,” explained Superintendent O’Sullivan. “We can hold a special election ... we can appoint someone ... or we can leave it vacant.”
O’Sullivan noted that the board had received a letter of interest for the position from former Chenango County Judge W. Howard Sullivan. Board members voted unanimously to appoint Sullivan, followed by a second unanimous vote to appoint Sullivan as an interim board member to fill McBride’s seat for the remainder of the term, which ends June 30.
The seat left empty by Horovitz will remain empty; her term also set to expire June 30. The board, with Sullivan taking part, voted to accept Horovitz’s resignation, meaning three board positions will be up for grabs when the community votes on May 21. Two seats carry a three-year term, while the remaining seat carries a one-year term.
Prior to acceptance of her resignation, Horovitz made one last plea that the board “seriously consider” her allegations that they have acted unjustly and that they also limit their closed door meetings.
Despite the shake-up caused by unanticipated board vacancies, it was not the only controversy addressed at Tuesday’s meeting. A written request to enter executive session to discuss matters pertaining to one employee and the school district was submitted by the three representatives of the school district’s three different educational unions - a request initially denied by board members but revisited during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Norwich Educational Organization (NEO) Representative Eric Cunningham addressed the board during the public comments session.
“We have asked to meet with you to meet some of our concerns,” he said, adding that he was also commenting on behalf of the other two unions. He said the board should hear the concerns of NEO as well as the other two unions as they pertain to “important matters.”
Board Member Perry Owen, who said he felt “blindsided” by the request, clarified his sentiment that the meeting wait until next month’s board meeting for “due consideration.”
Ultimately, board members did approve an executive meeting with the district’s three union representatives, pressured to do so by the union representatives as well as others who spoke during public comment.
“When you refuse to meet with three union reps, you refuse to listen,” said community member Don Chirlin. “That’s part of your responsibility ... you are here to listen.”
Chirlin also claimed the board spends too much time on personal issues and not enough time with academic issues.
No action was taken after executive session.
Petition packets for Norwich City School District residents who plan to run for the Board of Education are currently available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the office of the District Clerk, located at the District Office, 89 Midland Drive. Completed petitions with 100 signatures of qualified voters must be returned to the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on May 1.
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