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11/16/2017 05:26 PMDespite heartfelt endorsements from residents in support of North Branford Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoomaker, six members of the newly-formed Board of Education (BOE) split a vote that would have extended his contract to June 30, 2020, one year beyond its current June 30, 2019 conclusion. Due to the 3-3 tie, the year extension was not granted.
The BOE’s seventh seat was empty and did not have a vote on Nov. 16, due to the Town Council’s majority vote on Nov. 14 not to re-appoint Democratic BOE interim member Lynn Riordan (see the story here).
On Nov. 16, New BOE chair Sara Querfeld (R) said her vote against a one-year extension of the Superintendent’s contract followed the rationale that the request could be re-visited, once current questions being examined by the Town Council are answered regarding some unilateral fiscal and contractual decisions made by past chairs acting as the will of the board; with chairs acting in that capacity due to a board attorney's intepretation of BOE bylaws.
That explanation didn’t sit well with a crowd of supporters, many of who arrived for the BOE meeting’s start at 7 p.m. and stayed in the room at the Stanley T. Williams Community Center until the contract extension vote came down at 10:30 p.m.
Earlier in the meeting, ten residents came up to the microphone to urge the BOE to vote to add another year to Schoonmaker’s contract. Many gave personal accounts demonstrating Schoonmaker’s dedication to the district’s staff, its students and families. One citizen, Victor Pietrandrea, spoke against the extension and delivered a packet to the BOE which he said gave proof of issues being investigated by the Town Council due to materials he had gathered using the Freedom of Information Act.
The BOE also conducted regular business of the evening, including district reports, updates and presentations from Schoonmaker.
In an hour-long executive session, the BOE discussed the current three-year contract parameters for the district’s Superintendent, Director of Personnel and Business and Director of Technology before returning to the floor. Regarding the two director’s contracts, citing an earlier recommendation of the board attorney made to herself and Schoonmaker, Querfeld said “...we were encouraged to move from three year contracts to one-year contracts, or at-will,” later adding, “...it’s not a reflection on people’s work ethic; but it is a recommendation from our attorney.”
During board’s discussion ahead of the vote, it was noted that the contracts had been at-will until 2003, when the three-year contract model replaced them. The BOE then voted unanimously not to extend the two directors’ current three-year contracts, which end in June 2019, for an additional year, to June 2020. The district’s current Personnel and Business Director is Don Winnicki and its current Director of Technology is Bruce Williams.
Next, the board opened the motion to extend Schoonmaker’s contract, with four members joining in the discussion ahead of the vote.
Saying she had heard “everything” said in support of Schoonmaker, and adding, “I’ve observed that myself,” Querfeld explained why she would be voting against the one-year extension of his contract.
“Given the fact that this board, and this board’s Chief Executive Officer are under investigation at this time by the Town Council, and it’s heading to the State’s Attorney’s office; I do not feel it would be responsible to extend the contract, especially given as he has a contract through June 2019 and we will reconvene in June 2018 to address this again,” said Querfeld.
BOE Vice-chair Shawna Papa-Holzer (R) said she would be voting to grant the one-year extension.
“Based on the evaluation that was given of Scott in August, I cannot in good conscious vote with some others that have such strong feelings [against it] ... I’m just not as comfortable. However, I have suggested that we separate the vote into: one, opening the contract; and two, renewing the contract. I will say I do have issues with the contract as written, and I would like to delve a little bit deeper into it so I can make a better educated decision,” said Papa-Holzer.
For her part, BOE member Dianne Vumback (D) said she took issue with Querfeld’s comments.
“I disagree with your concerns,” Vumback said. “Many of us may have questions... I know when I have questions, I seek answers, and sometimes they were what I wanted to hear, and sometimes they weren’t. But I’m not harboring any ill will and I can’t blame anybody other than myself if I had these questions and didn’t search for the answers. So with that said, I think Scott, you did a great job I am going to support this. Sara, you yourself – I hope you’ll be honest will me – said you are convinced this investigation is going to go nowhere. And you told me that. So why would you say it’s the investigation that would stop you?’
“Because I have unanswered questions,” Querfeld responded.
“But why didn’t you ask them, Sara?” replied Vumback.
Querfeld’s response, “...because it’s part of an investigation,” received jeers from the audience which required Querfeld use of the gavel and a call for “decorum” before she could continue her statement.
“There are unanswered questions as to where some of the things in his contract have come from,” Querfeld continued. “There are unanswered questions about how board chairs were authorized to sign things and give things. There are unanswered questions as to why some board chairs have signed parts of [the contract] but what was actually given was more... I just have too many unanswered questions.”
“Well, it was your job to get the answers,” said Vumback, to an eruption of cheers from the audience.
BOE member Marcey Onofrio (D) also took issue Querfeld’s comments.
“You say there’s unanswered questions...I went above and beyond to help with two council members to put to rest the [expletive] that the Town Council has been saying,” said Onofrio. “Even when they get the answers in black and white; it’s not enough for them -- [the council says] ‘We’re going to send it to the state’s attorneys.’ Send it. They said it two months ago. They haven’t done it. Why? Because they know it’s going to go nowhere.”
Following discussion, the six members present voted on a motion to extend the contract of the Superintendent of Schools one year to June 30, 2020. Voting in favor were Papa-Holzer, Vumback and Onofrio. Voting against were Querfeld as well as BOE secretary Elizabeth Siena (R) and BOE member Carolyn Candelora (R).
Immediately after the meeting adjourned, Zip/06The Sound caught up with Schoonmaker for a comment. Schoonmaker said he appreciated the show of support given by those who came out to the meeting.
“I’m so humbled just by having these people here,” said Schoonmaker.
REPORTER'S UPDATE: On Nov. 20, The Sound received the following statement from BOE member Shawna Papa-Holzer: It is the duty of the North Branford Board of Education to be fiscally sound as we keep the educational offerings for our children competitive. Scott Schoonmaker Superintendent of Schools has a contract in place until June 2019. A motion was made at the November 16 Board of Education meeting to extend this contract. The vote failed with a 3 -3 tie. It is the intention of the Board of Education to revisit this issue in May or June of 2018 as outlined in the Superintendent's contract; however it is necessary to first review and revise the Board's past practices regarding contract renewals and modifications. - Shawna Holzer