Supporters of Superintendent of Schools Judith A. Palmer are literally rallying the troops for a rally next week.
Meanwhile, two employees of the school district have resigned over tensions with the Board of Education.
Sarah Schwab Beauprey, a resident and supporter of the superintendent, said they will be having a rally on Tuesday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at Oxford High School to show support for the district’s top employee.
“I think she (Palmer) does a great job,’‘ said Schwab Beauprey, who has also created a Facebook page for Palmer called: Save our Superintendent Judith A. Palmer.
At issue is Palmer’s contract.
On May 19, the BOE abruptly decided to void the superintendent’s contract and extend her employment only until June 30. Board members said they wanted time to be able to do a complete evaluation of Palmer.
The board said they voided the contract because of conflicting language in it, yet they have not gone public as to what that language was. Some action on Palmer’s contract was scheduled for a BOE meeting on June 8, but the meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum.
The next regular scheduled meeting of the BOE is set for July 13, long after Palmer’s extension expires.
Schwab Beauprey said they decided to do the rally to show the BOE and the community that, “we are behind Dr.Palmer,’‘ and want the BOE to negotiate a new contract with her.
“The rally is to show support for Dr. Palmer. Many in the community are upset over the way the BOE handled the situation with Dr. Palmer and wish that a discussion were held with Dr. Palmer rather than voiding her contract,’‘ she said.
The board’s attorney, Michael McKeon, did not return calls Thursday. Palmer did not return calls Thursday.
Meanwhile, Al Pullo, the district’s business manager has resigned, as has Rose Forzano, who is the administrative assistant to Palmer.
Forzano said she resigned because of the direction the board is going in regard to Palmer.
“I have to protect my future,’‘ she said. Forzano has been administrative assistant for five years and has been with the district since 1998.
Pullo also said he felt he was being pushed out.
He said he saw the “writing on the wall, ‘’ in January when he and Palmer prepared the budget and then were excused from attending any budget session meetings.
He also said he had learned his contract was also under review by the BOE. He said he will be leaving June 30, but has taken a new job with the Woodbridge school system in a similar position.
He said things were running smoothly before the election when Republicans replaced Democrats on the board.
He called actions by the BOE, “erratic,’‘ and said the district “was not a productive environment.’‘ He would have been with the district a year on July 1.
Former First Selectwoman Kathy Johnson, who said she was speaking “strictly as a citizen,’‘ said did not like the way the board handled Palmer’s contract, calling it “a witch hunt.’‘
She said she was also saddened to learn Pullo and Forzano had resigned. “You just don’t treat people like this and I don’t like to see something like this happening in my hometown.’‘
Rose Mckinnnon and the RTC are a bunch of bullies who hate unions, administrators, and teachers. If Rose had her chance, she would probably void all teacher contracts. She and the RTC have done more harm then good and are afraid to speak about what is really going on and it’s all about a power trip by the RTC and the queen herself. I hope this BOE is sued for their actions and then the members of the BOE are held accountable.
I’ve noticed that all the former board of Ed members Nancy Schmidt, Debbie Sherman, Jerry Schwab are all putting together all of these petitions, rallys and facebook pages. It is interesting to see who still is running things in the background for the education system. Unfortunately for them the voters have spoken. It is upsetting to some that it is not going to be business as usual.
My understanding was that Mr. Pullo was with the district less than a year and that his last job where he was in he was in also less than a year in that district. Good luck to Woodbridge….
I am helping circulate the petition as well as the one created for the assistant principal which the BOE failed to act upon. This is still the USA and I still have my right to free speech. What is happening in our district right now is awful. Staff are worried and concerned about which contract is next. People need to come together and say they will not put up with this behavior any longer. NO MORE BULLYING allowed in our TOWN.. Yes Mr. Pullo was in district for almost a year. But he is an amazing business manager. I wish him well in his next position and hope that he knows that the majority of the people in town respect each other.. there is just a small group who can’t communicate. DoWhatsRight.. are you a BOE member? They are the only ones who have seen the completed petitions. There are so many people involved in this project that you would be surprised. Threats will not stop us. Wonder how the current BOE is going to keep their promise to hire teachers after the cost of litigation on this matter.. Would have been alot cheaper to have the discussion with Dr. Palmer than the course they have chosen. But of course that is just my opinion..
I want to see the BOE have the courage to have a regular BOE meeting where the Public can have their say instead of running scared, cancelling meetings, and then scheduling Special meetings where they don’t allow input.
McKinnon & Macchio are big mouths, but really gave no guts to confront issues and instead hide behind “special” meetings.
OxfordResident, you say that McKinnon and Macchio are hiding behind “special” meetings but yet you are hiding behind a pen name when you make comments here. McKinnon and Macchio are holding meetings that are open to the public even though they may not be open for comment. They aren’t hiding behind anything. You on the other hand continue to share your negative feelings towards these people while well hidden behind your pen name. I guess that makes you feel good.
I think people are afraid because they know that this BOE is going to do what is right. That is not bullying that is called accountability.
Concerned Citizen, if I am hiding behind a pen name, who are you?
McKinnon, Macchio, and the rest of the bullies on the BOE are absolutely hiding because they only want “Special” meetings where public input is not allowed and then they refuse to say what is the issue with the Superintendent’s contract. This is not a personnel issue where an employee did something wrong that is private, this is an issue with a contract and they refuse to say what their issue is. The contract is a public document, so if language in the contract is wrong, then say what the issue is unless they are scared to look like the fools that they really are.
McKinnon is on a rampage, along with Macchio, Neary, and Lavin to do whatever they can to create chaos. They fired an attorney, are forcing out a Superintendent, went after the Business Manager and caused him to resign, and now the Super’s assistant has resigned because of the BOE’s actions.
wow, what a disturbing post by Carol! Because the BOE is doing its job by reducing class sizes, giving better material for teachers and kids, being thorough in their decision making they are attacked this way. What town do we live in? This language is outrageous and makes them sound like child molesters. Unbelievable and shameful.
This is nothing but a witch hunt, orchestrated by the BOE chairman, to purge the educational community of perceived enemies. The BOE has succeeded in destroying the morale of the employees in the system, which can only result in the degradation of the education of our children.
Thank you Dowhatsright for your commonsense post! As public officials we do expect to be attacked but this is beyond the pale, disgusting language. I believe this is slander and I may look to take action. Also, for all the talk of wanting voices to be heard Debbie Sherman locked me out of the SOS facebook page claiming that she didn’t want political talk even though I’m sure the Schmitt’s are still allowed to be on there despite their politics that I was only responding to – guess they want only one side of the story.
-Michael Macchio
DoWhatsRight, I agree with you. Carol’s post is pretty disturbing.
Oxford Resident, just like you I post comments on this site using my “pen name.” However, I do not resort to name-calling like you do.
Trying to change the subject will not make people forget that this BOE is systematically dismantling the educational system in town. The BOE has no professional knowledge or experience in education yet feel they are more qualified in making decisions and do it without any outside input. BOE’s do have an obligation to make sure the education system is running efficiently but complete unchecked control is dangerous and I afraid of where this will end. Don’t think it will be good for the educational system or the Town.
What a great turnout for a special person. Approx. 150 to 200 adults, students, and children attended and all of the speakers did a nice job.