Judy Palmer is still superintendent of schools.
For now.
Last week the Board of Education met until midnight and voted to void Palmer’s contract with the school district. The board agreed to pay her salary and benefits through the end of the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
A message seeking comment was left with Palmer.
Board Chairwoman Rose McKinnon said the board voted to void Palmer’s contract after it was reviewed by the board’s new attorney, Michael McKeon.
She said the board’s attorney said “language’‘ in the contract was not legal and recommended the board void it.
She did not specify what areas of the contract are deemed illegal.
McKinnon did say that Palmer’s performance would be up for review by the board’s personnel subcommittee. She declined to speak further on the matter and referred questions to McKeon, who did not return numerous phone calls.
On May 19, the board met in executive session at 8:40 p.m. to discuss Palmer’s contract and did not emerge until 11:45 p.m.
The meeting finally ended at midnight on May 20. In the board’s 7-2 vote, it was decided to revoke or rescind Palmer’s contract as void, effective immediately.
The board also voted to continue her employment through June 30, 2010, unless the board decides to extend her employment beyond that date.
Her salary and benefits will be the same as she is now earning. The board also voted to send Palmer a written notification of the board’s decision.
Palmer did not attend the meeting.
Board member Paula Guillet, who voted against voiding the contract, said she did not see anything illegal in the contract and disagreed with the
opinion of the attorney.
First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers did not return calls seeking comment on the board’s decision.
Palmer, who is entering her eighth year as superintendent here, earns $134,44 in salary and earns a $6,722 annuity.
She also gets 30 days vacation, 20 sick days, three personal days and a $3,600 a year allowance for her car, according to her contract. She also has a right under
contract to ask for a hearing.
She took over the helm of the school system from former superintendent Michael Abdalla.
WOW, McKinnon and the rest of the RTC cronies have gone crazy on this BOE. What, if anything, is illegal in the contract and what or WHO caused the contract to be reviewed in the first place?
This Board has fired the Attorney, Superintendent, has gone after other Admin’s, the Business Manager, and is acting like a bunch of hooligans. I would love to see the Performance evaluation of Judy’s in her previous 8 years and this year for comparison purposes. I bet you if there is one, it just happens to not be good now that there is a Republican BOE.
I hope Judy sues the heck out of the Oxford BOE for wrongful termination and I hope she wins and wins BIG to teach these lackies a lesson. McKinnon, Neary, Macchio, Lavin…they are all a joke and they should be ashamed of themselves!
Like the new Board attorney and the new Heating/Air Conditioning person, I wonder who on this BOE the new SuSuperintendents personal friends with?
OxfordResident, I have read the minutes from the meeting – the vote was 7-2 in favor of voiding Dr. Palmer’s contract. There were three other board members who voted for it besides the four “lackies” whom you say should be ashamed of themselves, one who is Democrat. Perhaps there is some actual merit to this, and it’s not as politically motivated as you allege?
If there is merit, then state the reasons!
Do not hide behind “Executive Session” as the reason it cannot be discussed or the game of “we have been advised not to discuss this by our attorney”.
If there was a Democrat, they have their reasons for voting with the Republicans, maybe there is just cause or maybe they are basing their decision on information that was only provided that night and was not refuted by the Superintendant because she was NOT invited nor allowed to be in the Executive Session.
This BOE and certain members are acting like Nazi’s and trying to eliminate anything/anyone they do not like or agree with and you remember what ultimately happened to them, they were defeated!
From my position, I have not seen nor heard anything negative related to the performance of this Superintendent and that is all that matters. Unless this BOE can provide concrete and factual information as to why this is in the best interests of the Oxford School District, then I cannot ever agree with their position.
OxfordResident, I too would like to know the reasons behind what happened. I don’t agree or disagree with the BOE’s position right now, as I know nothing more than what I have read on this site and in the newspaper. You have the right to disagree with their position, and I respect your opinion. What I don’t respect is your comment that “this BOE and certain members are acting like Nazi’s …” The name-calling is inappropriate.
I could care less what people think of my opinions because what I know is what I have seen first hand and that is the unilateral, Republican, party-endorsed actions of this BOE, led by a group of Republicans who are no better then the old Palmerites.
From someone who was at the last few RTC meetings, it was discussed exactly what was happening and how to do it, so don’t tell me it is not a party-endorsed action. I will say it again, they are acting like a bunch of Nazi’s trying to wipe out anyone whom they feel is not with them.
Who’s next, the Principals, the teachers, the janitors? This group of BOE members are an embarrassment and will end up costing Oxford and the Oxford School system alot of money when lawsuits start flying around!
There is no good way to respond to your anger. Have a nice day OxfordResident.
I hope the BOE knows what they are doing but I don’t have a lot of faith. If the issue is a narrow technical issue (an i not dotted?) I don’t see a court or arbitrator throwing the entire contract out. That leaves us, the taxpayer, exposed to legal costs and a potential settlement payout and for what and why?
Dear Oxford Resident,
Your statement, “From someone who was at the last few RTC meetings, it was discussed exactly what was happening and how to do it,…” is untrue.
As an RTC member who has attended each meeting, I know that this action was not discussed at RTC meetings. Similar to DTC meetings I’m sure, BoE and all town related issues are discussed in general. This exact issue however, dealing with the details of the Superintendent’s contract, and the related BoE action, were never discussed. Further, this was NOT a party endorsed action … as you wrongfully claim.
When this did become public knowledge, it came as much of a complete surprise to me as as it did to every other Oxford citizen.
Whatever the exact details are, and I do not know, I would expect that they have been well discussed with the school board’s attorney. I highly doubt an attorney would support such action over something as insignificant as dotting or crossing a letter of the alphabet. If it turns out so, I will offer you a sincere apology.
I would also remind you that the vote to carry out this action was 7 to 2 with two democrats in support.
Respectfully, Dick Burke
Really? I don’t see credibility and Burke being synonymous
How absurd it is for OxfordResident to be challenging credibility when they have to hide behind a veil of anonymity.
It’s unfortunate that adults can’t simply agree to disagree without all the insults. A big reason impacting the ability of both political parties in Oxford to attract
new members.
I have no problem sleeping at night. Whoever you are … if you would like to discuss this matter personally & confidentially off to the side … please don’t hesitate to call me.
Respectfully, Dick Burke
Interesting, Board Meeting for June 8th cancelled per Oxford Board of Education website.
The BOE meeting was cancelled because the chair and her cohorts can’t deal with all the heat that is coming. What a sneaky, crooked deal they are trying to pull. As a taxpayer, I am very upset. This fiasco is going to wind up costing a bundle in legal fees and settlement awards. Meanwhile, business that needs to be conducted at this meeting goes undone because the chair and her cohorts are too chicken to show up!
Pigfarmer, I don’t think the BOE cares about the legal bills. Nor do they care about the children in our schools. They’ll just blame somebody else when the money runs out from paying lawyers. That’s their M.O. blame other people and accept responsibility for nothing. NOTHING – not responsibility, not listening to the people that elected their a$$es into the seats – and certainly not owning a high school. By the way, did you see the high school was for sale on craig’s list? Another proud moment for the oxford taxpayer!
Business Manager and Admin Ass’t to Superintendent leaving, Assistant Jr High Principal gone, Superintendent being forced out, more administrators to leave? This is what this board, under this leadership, wanted so now it’s up to them to run the district. They will be held fully accountable, I hope they are up to it.
Dear Pigfarmer,
Some name you’ve chosen for yourself. As the saying goes, if the shoe fits …..
I find your diatribe as useless and unsupported as that of the OxfordResident. You use negative terms to refer to people who were elected by the citizens of Oxford and by a heavy margin. You call them chickens, while like the OxfordResident, you hide in the shadows … afraid to sign your real name to the garbage you spew.
There’s many points to be made, but in response to your writing, I’ll make just four.
1) If you are so concerned about legal expenses, where is and was your concern for the unnecessary legal bills being incurred by our current 1st Selectperson, or those that were brought about by the actions of the prior BoE.
2) The article we’re responding concerns our superintendent’s contract and performance. Contrary to a recent WRA article, if you believe there has been fiscal responsibility under her watch, then let me sell you some ocean front property in Oxford. The stack of evidence on this matter is overwhelming.
3) This is, or supposed to be, mainly about education and the quality thereof. I challenge you and the OxfordResident to perform a thorough review of the test data that is publicly available. Oxford can and should be doing much better.
4) My final point is support for the current BoE … not from me … but from the Oxford voters. Look at the results of the last election. Only one democratic incumbent was re-elected. Two other democratic BoE members occupy their seats only because of the minority rule. The last and 4th democratic member of the BoE is there only because Madam Rogers gave a vacated Republican seat to that person rather appoint another Republican which would have been in line with the voters election wishes.
Respectfully, Dick Burke
You see Dick these folks don’t care about the children as they claim the BoE doesn’t. They are loyal to their democratic party which I bet they are leaders of. Here’s hoping the BoE and BoF keep on keepin’ on. Your doing a great job and most of the Oxford taxpayers are appreciative to you! And yes, I too am chicken…