I resigned from one committee and turned down two
others. Remember the reasons why?
Below are the emails I sent to Joe Leto in which I
explained each decision.
Why
I turned down being on a committee to discuss the selection of Board Attorney (Sent
June 30, 2018):
Joe,
I am sorry for any inconvenience but I have been advised not to
attend this committee meeting. With all the controversies surrounding
this Board, I really shouldn't put myself in a situation where things said are
not on tape and records are not kept.
As I stated in our conversation over the phone last Sunday, I
believe that the full Board should participate in the entire selection process.
Different Board members bring different things to the table. For example,
Leslie has a Law background. No members should be shut out. No
member should have any more influence than any other.
It appears that these ad hoc committees are being used as a way
to keep information away from the public and also to give Quatrone and Capizzi
more influence over the decisions that belong to Board members.
Not too long ago, an ad hoc committee to study Lincoln School
reports ended in complete disaster. We all saw the benefits of having the
Engineer speak in public and discuss reports in public. That should be a
lesson learned. Everything that can be discussed in public should be
discussed in public. What can't be discussed in public should be discussed by
the full Board in closed session.
Ryan
Why
I turned down being on committee to choose the interview questions for other Board
members (Sent February 17, 2018):
Joe,
After doing some research, I don't believe this should be a
committee assignment. Once again, there are 8 Board members and no four
members should have more influence in this process than anybody else. I don't
feel comfortable being part of this committee and will not be attending the
meeting on Monday.
Our by-laws state: "The
Board of Education authorizes the creation of committees of Board members
charged to conduct studies, make recommendations to the Board, and act in an
advisory capacity. Committees are not authorized to take action on behalf of
the Board."
If the committee meets on Monday, when would it present its
recommendations to the whole Board? When would the whole Board have an
opportunity to make the ultimate decision of which questions would be asked on
its behalf?
The committee never asked the Board what criteria should be used
for selecting a new member. The Board never discussed a consistent rating form
to evaluate answers. From the NJSBA's guidance:
2. Ask
each candidate the same question and use a consistent
rating form to evaluate the answers.
The most recent public notice does not include a resolution to go
into closed session for deliberations. From
the NJSBA's guidance:
4. After
the interviews are finished, the board can go into executive (closed) session
to deliberate.
How can you select someone without deliberations? When
would you evaluate answers and compare ratings?
Ideally, the whole Board should have met sooner if it wanted to
agree on a set of questions. It didn't.
At this point, why shouldn't each member come with one question on
Wednesday and ask that same question to all five applicants? The Board
can disclose that each member chose their own question so members will not be
responsible for the questions of others.
If all members enter the meeting open-minded, independent, and
respectful, the public will recognize it and appreciate it.
Ryan Curioni
Why
I resigned from the Personnel Committee (click on the link below to view email
sent on March 23, 2018):
😥😥😥
