Newfane conflict

shughes · Senior Member

Newfane conflict

Nitrogen_Widget · Senior Member

It is my opinion that anyone who's salary comes from taxpayer money should never have a say in his or her pay raises.

How much of a pay raise are we talking?

Ann · Member

I UNDERSTAND THAT NEWFANES'S SUPE IS MAKING WELL OVER $130,000 + FREEBIES ACCORDING TO NEWFANECARES.ORG......SEEN MILLS W2 FORM ON THE INTERNET THAT WAS RECEIVED THRU THE FOIL ACT....HAD TO GET IT FROM ALBANY....ALSO HAVE THE TEACHERS CONTRACT.......WOW!!!....THEY MAKE MORE A YEAR THAN THE KIDS PARENTS........THE KIDS PARENTS HAVE TO WORK 2 + JOBS TO RAISE THEIR FAMLIES + PAY SALERIES FOR ADMININSTRATION AND TEACHERS + ALL THEIR BENEFITS....ARE NEWFANES RESIDENTS DUMDOWN????...YOU BET!!!

Scott Leffler · Guru

Ann,

Welcome to the forum. It'll be nice to have some Newfane discussion here. Lots of crazyness there, but not well represented on the site.

I tell ya what. I wish my intern could decide my salary.

Hmmph.

Nitrogen_Widget · Senior Member

I have a problem with people whose salary is above 50K & is paid by taxes.

Seriously, how can someone not live comfortably on that much money?

I know I could.

Why the excess?

Why is it allowed to go on?

If a school budget is voted down it still usually goes up because their contingency budget kicks in. What always get's cut in the contingency budget? Sporting equiptment mostly.

But never a teacher's raise. Shool systems should have a salary cap. This area is the promised land for a teacher.

You don't get these types of salaries in other states yet their schools are not ranked as low as some of ours.

shughes · Senior Member

When a budget fails equipment, uniforms and supplies have to be cut by law. If cutting those things doesn't get you at or below contingent level you have to start looking at everything that isn't mandated. That includes things like sports, music and electives. Nothing good can come from that. The public actually only votes on a small percentage of the total budget. Employee contracts, basic transportation and most operating expences are off limits. A contract negotiation handled by an intern is a different matter all together. Does anyone have any details about this?

Ann · Member

well...lets see......first off.......if you get on the net and look up the "TriboroughLaw"....and "Perb"...(public employees relations board)....you will see that teachers thru-out NYS...BOUGHT OFF the politicians to ENACT THIS law (passed many, many years ago.....the politicians got bought off with lottttts of monies from the NYS UNITED TEACHERS ASSOC)...the NYS UNITED TEACHERS UNION IS THE STRONGEST UNION IN NYS...... this law gives them automatic raises..... its a law that protects all public employees......but.....inclusive in this law is the "Taylor Law" which forbids them to strike.........

soooooo......if you have a GOOOOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION....that not only looks out for the students......but.... also the taxpayer.....the board can make a stand and tell the administration and teachers.....O.K.........IF YOU WANT A RAISE.....THEN WE LAY OFF SOME OF YOUR CO-WORKERS......AND IF YOU WANT TO STRIKE....GO AHEAD...YOU WILL BE PUT IN JAIL AND PAY YOUR FINES BECAUSE YOU TEACHERS ARE VIOLATING THE TAYLOR LAW..........NOW.....EITHER TAKE CONCESSIONS...IF NOT....THERE WILL BE LAYOFFS.....AND YOU TAKE UP THE EXTRA LOAD OF CLASSES.........now......will the teachers wish to see their colleagues get layed off????.... you bet!!!!....thats how greedy they are.......its the money they want....

A good example OF A BOARD OF EDUCATION is the Lewiston School Board......they are stepping down on those teachers........they have a strong board that is looking out for the taxpayer.

this is what every school district should have on their boards of education....business minded people.....and no one should be elected to a board who has a family member or relative that is a teacher........

also......remember.......CONCLUSIVE studies SHOW (I HAVE THE STUDIES) that "A QUALITY EDUCATION DOES NOT EQUIVOCATE TO A HIGHER SALARY".....ITS IMPOSSIBLE!!.......THE "BUZZWORD 'QUALITY' ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE USED....THE TEACHERS STOLE THAT WORD FROM GENERAL MOTORS QUALITY OF WORKLIFE PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED BACK IN THE EARLY 70's..........THAT QUALITY OF WORKLIFE MEAN'T THE QUALITY OUTPUT OF A CAR.....NOT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE LABORER....THE TEACHERS UNIONS TRIED USING THAT WORD AS A "CATCHALL PHRASE" AND MIS-INTERPRETED THE WORD.......SORRRRRY.....EVERYONE HAS BEEN MISGUIDED INTO BELIEVING WE HAVE THE BEST PERFECT TEST SCORES AMONG STUDENTS IN THE NEWFANE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.....EVEN IN THE STATE.....SPARE ME!!

EARLIER THIS YEAR...I HAPPENED TO CATCH A PICTURE OF CONGRESSMAN REYNOLDS IN THE BUFFALO NEWS....HE WAS MAKING "HAPPY TALK" TO SOME CONSTITUENTS......GUESS WHO WAS IN THE PICTURE STANDING BESIDE HIM????........AHHH.......MR. (SHORTY) MILLS....THE NEWFANE SUPE!!!. IS SOMEONE LOOOOKING FOR A POLITICAL APPT.?????

dontlookhere · Veteran Member

Well isn't that just ducky. So Ann I'm sensing you don't like teachers. So whats this about the intern giving the boss a raise? Things like that don't happen in the real world. Did this really happen?

Oh and at the risk of a major attack, 50k for a masters degree and 20 years of service is not good pay!

Date: Thu Jun 16 8:27 PM, 2005

I better not hear a cigar was involved.

Ann · Member

HI SHUGES,

THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION......THE BEST I CAN RELATE........

MRS. HILL IS THE CURRENT (BUT OUTGOING BOARD PRESIDENT).

FIRST, THE B.O.E. CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT.....ITS BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS....SO GET USE TO IT.

SECONDLY, WHEN THE CONTINGENCY BUDGET IS SO CLOSE TO THE NEWLY DEVISED BUDGET.....FORGET ABOUT VOTING.......ITS NOT WORTH IT......CAUSE THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.......HIGHER ASSESSMENTS WHICH BRINGS IN MORE REVENUES FROM THE TAXPAYERS + THEY GET ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM THE STATE EACH YEAR....AND....IT GETS HIGHER EVERY YEAR.

THIRDLY, THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THINGS IS TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH A BRAIN IN THEIR HEAD TO RUN FOR THE BOARD WHO WILL STAND UP FOR THE TAXPAYER AND SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!".......BUT......ALL THOSE ON THE BOARD ARE BACKSLIDERS...TOOOO SCARED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. THEIR BRAINS ARE WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE.

FOURTH, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE BOARD IS.....ONE TRUSTEE WHOSE HUBBY WAS FOUND TO HAVE TAKEN MONIES FROM THE LOCAL SHUR FINE STORE.....AND GOD FORBID IF SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HER HUBBY WAS BRINGING HOME WEEKLY IN HIS PAYCHECK....SHE HAD TO KNOW......ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS TIME TO MAKE OUT THAT IRS FORM.......THAT WAS ALL KEPT QUIET..... SHES BEEN AWFULLY QUIET ON THE BOARD SINCE THAT OCCURRED.

THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER, RUHMEL, WHO IS CURRENTLY UNDER AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTY'S. OFFICE WHERE FUNDS ARE MISSING FROM THE TOWN RECREATION DEPT. THAT HE WAS IN CHARGE OF....AN APPOINTED JOB FROM THE TOWN REC. COMMITTEE.

THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER JOKER ON THE BOARD WHO THINKS HES "POPE"....LANGTON.

ANNNNND.....THE LAROSE GUY......WHOS SOOOOO LAZY.......IF HE POOPED IN THE BED HE WOULDEN'T KNOW HOW TO KICK IT OUT FROM UNDER THE SHEETS....HE REPRESENTS THE NEWFANE BOARD TO BOCES......GOD KNOWS FOR HOW LONG.....AND BOCES WENT TO THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE RECENTLY TO ASK FOR MORE MONIES......THEY ARE TEACHERS ALSO. SO THE TAXPAYERS PAY DOUBLE....FOR NEWFANE TEACHERS AND BOCES TEACHERS.

NOW WE'VE GOT THIS NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.....REINEKE.....WHO LIVES WITH HIS PARENTS......NEVER PAID SCHOOL TAXES A DAY IN HIS LIFE.....HE WAS VOTED IN RIGHT AFTER HE GRADUATED FROM NEWFANE.

THEN THE OLD GUY....STIEFFENHOFER.......HES READY FOR THE NURSING HOME...HE WAS TOLD TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT.........HE DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK UP AT THE MEETINGS. THE GALS ON THE BOARD HAVE THE OLD BULL BY THE HORNS.

ANNNNND, DONNA HILL????......SHES A SMALL TIME TYPICAL BUSINESS WOMAN ......BUT HAS AN "ANAL COMPULSIVE ATTITUDE"....LIKE..."I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYONE.......EXCEPT TO MILLS AND THE TEACHERS"....SHE JUST LOVES CONTRACT TIME......GIVING AWAY THE SHIP.....SOMETHING CAUGHT UP WITH HER THIS TIME...........SHE MUST HAVE LOST SOME OF HER FINESSE WITH A FEW TEACHERS WHO WENT AFTER HER ON THAT LAST VOTE.

WELLLL.......IT WILL ALL GET COVERED UP AS USUAL....THATS BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR NEWFANE.....ITS WHO KNOWS WHO.

LASTLY, JUST SELL YOUR HOME.....GET THE HELL OUT OF DODGE......YOU WILL LOSE MONEY ON SELLING YOUR HOME......LOTTTTS OF FOLKS ARE ABANDONING THEIR HOMES.....OR SELLING FOR LESS THAN IT WAS ASSESSED FOR.......TAXES WILL NEVER GO DOWN ......ITS UNENDING.....TILL THE WELL GOES DRY......THEY DON'T LISTEN...THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW.....THEY DON'T CARE.......ALL YOU WILL HAVE LIVING HERE IN NIAG. CTY. WILL BE TEACHERS AND COUNTY WORKERS....WITH GOOD PAY AND BENEFITS.......ITS ALL RECYCLED MONEY.........ANNNNNND....IF DELPHI GOES OR THE BASE GOES........BYE, BYE EVERYONE......ITS THE END.......OR BETTER YET....MAYBE WE CAN JOIN THE WINETRAIL AND PICK GRAPES FOR A LIVING.

GOOD LUCK......ANN

Ann · Member

HI DON'T LOOK HERE.....

THINK YOU ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED........YOU'RE ASKING ME QUESTIONS FROM SOMEONE ELSES DIALOG....HOWEVER.......I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU BORED.

AS FOR YOUR STATEMENT....."YOU SENSE I DON'T LIKE TEACHERS"?

SWEETHEART.....I LOVE TEACHERS....."ONLY THOSE" WHO ARE "DEDICATED" TO THEIR PROFESSION......AND THATS RARE THESE DAYS.

SORRY........DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A BOSS AND INTERN......READ "NITROGEN WIDGETS" DIALOG......YOU HAVE TO ASK HIM.

AND AS FOR $50,000K WITH A MASTERS DEGREE........SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT ITS NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU......BUT I HAVE THE SALARY PAYSCALE FOR YOUR 2004-2005 CONTRACTURAL YEAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.......ITS $69,564K FOR A BACHELORS DEGREE....AND....$74,300K FOR A MASTERS DEGREE.....WITH 20 YEARS SENORITY......AND THATS NOT INCLUDING YOUR BENEFITS SWEETHEART.

LOOOOOOOK AT HOW MANY FAMILIES APPLY FOR FREE LUNCHES AT THE SCHOOL FOR THEIR KIDS......THAT TELLS ME THAT THOSE PARENTS ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GIVE THEIR KIDS DAILY LUNCH MONEY........

LOOOOOK AT ALL THE YOUNG FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO WORK 2 AND 3 JOBS TO KEEP UP WITH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING.

LOOOOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF ELDERLY IN THE TOWN OF NEWFANE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES...........

LOOOOOK AT 72% OF THE POPULATION IN NIAGARA CTY. WHO ARE ON SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.

LOOOOOK WHERE ALLLLLL OUR KIDS GO AFTER COLLEGE........TO OTHER STATES FOR JOBS.......THEY GET EDUCATED HERE THEN LEAVE THE STATE.

LOOOOOK FOR A GOOD PAYING JOB OUT THERE......NADA.....INDUSTRY HAS LEFT US A RUST BELT.

LOOOOOK AT ALL THE LOW PAY SCALES....MINIMUM WAGES.

GOOD GREIF........"DON'T LOOK HERE"......WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN....IN LA LA LAND???

ANNIE..........

shermanwlvl · Senior Member

scott i just wish i had a intern then maybe the money ha!

Nitrogen_Widget · Senior Member

dontlookhere - i don't know anything about interns either, but I will stand by my statement.

The 2 things teacher's use to defend their pay is their degree's & "those kids would eat you alive" mantra

On the first reason, why does it take 6 yrs of college to learn to teach 4 yrs of highschool?

On the second, this is the subburbs. It isn't the movie "Stand By Me" with gangs roaming the halls & students murdering students.

Perhaps children would be more well behaved if their parents wern't working so hard to pay their school tax & could spend more time with them.

Ann - i'm with you on this. My Parents school tax in starpoint is insane. It's gone up steadily after they put up that addition.

But to be honest I do not understand the school systems dispersion of tax money.
Could someone explain so I can better understand?

Scott Leffler · Guru

Not to mention, NW (et al) that I know literally dozens of people with college degrees working as cashiers and/or delivering pizzas. A college degree doesn't ENTITLE you to anything.

My big problem I always have is go to a college and ask the education majors why they want to be teachers - none of them will tell you it's for the money. But suddenly when they find jobs and figure out the system, that money becomes a real necessity ... and lots of it, too.

Scott Leffler · Guru

Well, as many of you likely heard this morning, Superintendent Jim Mills called into the show to dispute what this thread is based on. Essentially, he said, the board gave the school district's attorney a set of guidelines to follow to write the contract. He then just has to have the Board president sign off on it. So, while it's a little odd, it's not AS BAD as we had heard. Then after Jim explained that to me, I tried to ask him a couple other questions. He said he makes $115,000 and will go up from there. I also asked him if he couldn't live on $115,000 and that clammed him up and ended the phone call. But I still give him kudos for calling. Once the podcast is up, I highly recommending listening to the first 10 minutes or so if you missed the show live.

dontlookhere · Veteran Member

Yes it's good he called to clear that up. However the confilct of interest may still be and issue:

One person cannot simultaneously hold two public offices or positions of employment if one is subordinate to the other, such that the person would essentially be his or her own boss, or if the functions of the two positions are inherently inconsistent with each other, such as simultaneously as the district’s finance officer and as the auditor responsible for the integrity of the district’s finances. (Opinion of the Attorney General I 92-13)

There must be a great likelihood of a division of loyalties or a conflict of duties between the offices, not merely a possibility that such complications may arise on occasion.

I would think that Mills has to sign off on completion of the internship. That would be recieving something of value from him. He answers directly to the School Board President. Wouldn't that be the same as being your own boss? No not in la la land here.

-- Edited by dontlookhere at 13:21, 2005-06-17

Scott Leffler · Guru

Don't Look,

Excellent citation. I - along with several others - have presumed a conflict of interest. I mean, it's obvious. But we didn't have the case-law to say as much. Maybe that should be run by the board of ed. As if they'd care.

dontlookhere · Veteran Member

Nitrogen_Widget wrote:

dontlookhere - i don't know anything about interns either, but I will stand by my statement. The 2 things teacher's use to defend their pay is their degree's & "those kids would eat you alive" mantra On the first reason, why does it take 6 yrs of college to learn to teach 4 yrs of highschool? On the second, this is the subburbs. It isn't the movie "Stand By Me" with gangs roaming the halls & students murdering students. Perhaps children would be more well behaved if their parents wern't working so hard to pay their school tax & could spend more time with them. Ann - i'm with you on this. My Parents school tax in starpoint is insane. It's gone up steadily after they put up that addition. But to be honest I do not understand the school systems dispersion of tax money. Could someone explain so I can better understand?

Wow thats a bunch of things to respond to. Let me give it a shot.

On the first reason, why does it take 6 yrs of college to learn to teach 4 yrs of highschool? This one is easy, its the law. No Child Left Behind makes it mandatory.

On the second, this is the subburbs. It isn't the movie "Stand By Me" with gangs roaming the halls & students murdering students. No that movie was mild compared to what these kids learn now, the internet is a great teaching tool and terrible babysitter all in one. But you really answered this one yourself: Perhaps children would be more well behaved if their parents wern't working so hard to pay their school tax & could spend more time with them.

We can't dump the problem on any one head here. The problem has grown so large that no simple solution will work. The whole system is broken.

As for the dispersion of tax money, you would need to be more specific. Not that I will be able to answer for you, but I don't know what you want to know.

On a final note, I think Ann would make a great school board member. What do you say Ann? Throw your hat in the ring next year.

Nitrogen_Widget · Senior Member

The no child left behind has only been around since 2001 & if I read it correctly, A teacher is only required to hold a degree of some sort & it is up to the state to set the minimum requirements.

Please correct me if I’m wrong. It is a long document & I could have missed something.

It’s my opinion that the higher degrees are an excuse to justify the higher pay scales.

Blame the Internet.

That isn’t a very good answer.

I’ll agree some buffalo schools deal with children that attack teacher’s at an unusual rate. But I doubt there are many Newfane teacher’s walking around with knife wounds in their back & if a student is disruptive standard procedure is to send them to the principles office, unless the teacher’s let them dance on their chairs throughout the lesson.

There is a very real simple solution.

Limit the amount of money a school is allowed to spend on teacher’s salary based on number of classrooms a school has.

Don’t lower existing teacher’s salaries, but limit the salaries of new teacher’s to get spending under control. It will take a few yrs to even out as teachers take early retirement at the rate of half their pay?

I understand by law I have to pay school taxes. But what about the senior citizens no longer working? Should they be forced to sell their homes because their school tax bill has tripled over the last 7 yrs? Look at Pendleton. There are a lot of homes built in the late 80’s that are now for sale. Why? It’s a nice quiet place to live. Most people I know plan on dieing in the new home’s they just built. I’m thinking they’re selling because their taxes have gotten out of control.

I’m just curious as to how the tax money is divvied out.

What part goes to salaries, maintenance, extra curricular activities & utilities?

Ann · Member

TO "DON'T LOOK HERE"

NO THANKYOU.......NADA....WILL NOT TOSS MY HAT INTO RING FOR NEWFANE BOE...

THEY WOULD 'CENSOR' ME........AND....THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH A 'BANSHEE'.

IF THERE WERE 4 OF US IN THE SAME MODE....AS ME......THE TEACHERS WOULD BECOME 'TERRORISTS' DRESSED IN BLACK.....HIRE.....SENATOR MAZARIAZ'S HENCHMEN....WARD AND SCHULER AND A FEW RADICAL TEACHERS....TO INTIMIDATE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.....THEIR PARENTS......BECOME DOWN AND DIRTY.....ETC; ANNNNND TAMMY LUDWIG WOULD LAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR A MAC TRUCK TO RUN OVER HER BEFORE SHE WOULD ALLOW A BUDGET TO BE TURNED DOWN.

AS FAR AS NEGOTIATIONS.........IN REFERENCE TO THE SUPE AND BOARD PRESIDENT..........EACH PARTY SELECTS THEIR OWN REPS FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EACH REP IS EMPOWERED TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE PROPOSALS, CONSIDER PROPOSALS AND REACH COMPROMISES DURING THE COURSE OF NEGOTIATING. PROPOSALS AGREED UPON SHALL BE TENTATIVE PENDING THE AGREEMENT ON ALL PROPOSALS AND NO FINAL AGREEMENT SHALL BE EXECUTED WITHOUT THE RATIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.........AND WHILE THEY ARE NEGOTIATING MR. MILLS CONTRACT.......NEITHER PARTY...(B.O.E. OR MILLS REP...THE ATTY.) SHALL HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO THE PUBLIC MEDIA, IN ANY EFFORT TO AFFECT THE RESULTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, UNLESS PRIOR NOTICE IS GIVEN TO THE OTHER PARTY....(IN OTHER WORDS...THEY NEGOTIATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH TAXPAYER MONIES WITH NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC...ITS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY)......

IN FINALLITY, THE PUBLIC SHALL NOT BE INFORMED TILL THEN....IN OTHER WORDS...MR. MILLS WILL HAVE HIS CONTRACT APPROVED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.......IT WILL BE RUBBER STAMPED.......

ANNNNNND........BY LAW......IF THE BOARD PRESIDENT IS AN INTERN RECEIVING PAY BY THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WHILE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT FOR HER BOSS........BY LAW SHE SHOULD 'RECUSE' HERSELF BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST....HOWEVER.....THE NEWFANE B.O.E. ALWAYS TAKES THE POSITION OF BEING "ABOVE THE LAW"!!!......THATS CALLED "INSUBORDINATION"!!!

NOW I HAVE BEFORE ME MR. MILLS 2004 W-2 FORM........WAGE AND TAX STATEMENT.

TOTAL WAGES, TIPS, OTHER COMPENSATIONS........$135, 579.96

INCLUSIVE OF THIS IS $2,800---INSURANCE WAIVER.......HE WAS PAID THIS SAME AMOUNT AS THE TEACHERS IN RETURN TO NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE COVERAGE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT (HIS WIFE'S INSURANCE WILL TAKE OVER) I THINK HE RECEIVES THIS AMOUNT EVERY YR...NOT SURE......THIS IS A BOARD APPROVED NEGOTIATION SETTLEMENT.......

YEH! THE BOARD SURELY KNOWS HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE TAXPAYERS MONIES!!!

HEY FOLKS, DOES YOUR EMPLOYER GIVE YOU THIS FREEBEE?.....HEY SCOTT.....WILL YOUR BOSS GIVE YOU THIS INCENTIVE IF YOU DROP YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE SO THAT YOUR WIFE CAN PICK IT UP FOR YOU AT HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT??

MOOOOORE FREEBIES........

$7,200---OTHER EXPENSES

$9,660---VACATION BUY BACK

GOTTCHA COVERED........ANNIE

shughes · Senior Member

I'm with the duck on this one Ann. You could be a voice for the people, a very good voice.

Did you just confirm that the Board President is being piad by the district?

-- Edited by shughes at 17:35, 2005-06-17

dontlookhere · Veteran Member

A couple of regulations for Ann:

Nothing in the Education Law authorizes either a board of education or the commissioner of education to censure or reprimand a school board member (Appeal of Philips, 41 Educ. Dep't Rep. 10 (2001); Appeal of Kozak, 39 Educ. Dep't Rep. 278 (1999); Appeal of Silano, 33 Educ. Dep't Rep. 20 (1993)). However, a school board may criticize the actions of a board member for exhibiting poor judgment (Appeal of Silano).

There is no legal basis either for ordering a school board member to apologize (Appeal of Lloyd, 39 Educ. Dep't Rep. 537 (2000)).

The term conflict of interest describes a situation in which a school board member, district officer, or employee is in a position to benefit financially from a decision he or she may make on behalf of the district through the exercise of official authority or disposing of public funds. Financial interests that are prohibited by law include:

· Interest in a contract with the school district where a school board member, district officer, or employee has the power or may appoint someone who has the power to negotiate, authorize, approve, prepare, make payment, or audit bills or claims under the contract unless otherwise exempted under law (Gen. Mun. Law 801(1), 802).

· Interest by a chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his or her deputy or employee in a bank or other financial institution that is used by the school district he or she serves (Gen. Mun. Law 801(2)).

Interest is defined as a direct or indirect pecuniary benefit that runs to the officer, or employee as a result of a contract with the school district (Gen. Mun. Law 800(3)). The General Municipal Law expressly makes the provisions regarding conflicts of interest applicable to school districts (Gen. Mun. Law 800).

Contract is defined to include any claim, account, or demand against, or agreement, express or implied, as well as the designation of a depository of public funds or a newspaper for use by the school district (Gen. Mun. Law 800(2)).

Scott Leffler · Guru

shughes wrote:

Did you just confirm that the Board President is being piad by the district? --

That's not how I read it, Shughes. I think Ann just listed the Superintendent's perks. And I agree. It'd be nice to see Ann ... or someone like her .... on that board.

shughes · Senior Member

ANNNNNND........BY LAW......IF THE BOARD PRESIDENT IS AN INTERN RECEIVING PAY BY

THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WHILE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT FOR HER BOSS........BY LAW

SHE SHOULD 'RECUSE' HERSELF BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST....HOWEVER.....THE NEWFANE B.O.E. ALWAYS TAKES THE POSITION OF BEING "ABOVE THE LAW"!!!......THATS CALLED "INSUBORDINATION"!!!

Read that first line scott.

Ann · Member

TO: DON'T LOOK HERE...........

THANKS......FOR THE EDUCATION LAWS......MAYBE YOU SHOULD RUN FOR THE B.O.E.

YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOU'RE HOMEWORK LIKE A GOOOOOOD LITTLE DUBIE.

BUT......YOU CAN FIGHT THEM TILL THE COWS COME HOME...AND...YOU'LL NEVER

BE ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS WITH THE BOARD.......UNLESS.......YOU SWAY SOMEONE WITH THE SAME MINDSET AND RUN FOR THE BOARD ON A SLATE......

WE'VE BEEN INTO THIS FIASCO FOR ABOUT 30YRS.........SAME OLD, SAME OLD........

QUESTION FOR ALL........HEARD BOE PRES.......DONNA.......IS IN SOME KIND OF BUSINESS....IS IT A MORTGAGE OR REAL ESTATE CO.???? OR SOMETHING???

HEARD THAT AS AN INTERN.....SHE DOES NOT GET PAID.......DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW??

ANNIE