More than 150 parents and students carrying signs and posters showed up at a rally outside Oxford High School Tuesday night in support of Superintendent of Schools Judith Palmer, who has a job with the district at least until June 30.
Some at the rally called for the resignation of the current membership of the school board. Others called on the board to sit down and negotiate a fair contract with Palmer.
On May 19, the school board 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.
Board Chairwoman Rose McKinnon said at the time the board voted to void Palmer’s contract after it was reviewed by the board’s attorney Michael McKeon.
She said the board’s attorney said “language,’‘ in the contract was not legal and recommended the board void it.
Last weekend, the Republican-American of Waterbury, citing a letter from the school board’s lawyer, reported that Palmer’s contract was written so that it would be automatically renewed.
McKeon has not returned numerous calls for comment and it appeared that none of the school board members were at the rally. Palmer also was not at the rally.
“I just think what they did was dumb and selfish,’‘ said student Julia Low-Chappell, who held a sign that said, “Board of Education NOT.’‘
Low-Chappell said she has met the superintendent on her visits to the Great Oak Middle School where she is a seventh grader and really likes her.
Patty Severson, a former school board chairman, called the actions of the board, “unethical, unfair, cruel and destructive.’‘
She called on the board to sit down and give Palmer a performance evaluation before the end of the fiscal year. “She has been excellent and state-wide, she has been a positive educational force,’‘ she said.
Parent Nancy O’Hara said the actions of the school board amount to a “vote of no confidence,’‘ and said the board, “is not acting in the best interest of our town.’‘
Todd Orner, whose son is graduating from Oxford High this year, called the actions of the board, “crazy, ‘’ and added, “things are not right in Oxford. This should not be happening.’‘
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers attended the rally.
“She (Palmer) and I have worked well with each other and she has always been positive and supportive,’‘ said Drayton-Rogers.
Drayton-Rogers is a Democrat. The majority of school board members are Republicans.
Palmer has been superintendent since 2002 and earns $134,444 a year plus a $6,722 annunity per year.
How could it be ‘hundreds of people’? when it was only 150 with what I saw was a lot of students and the DTC regulars. Is it possible that the first selectman has been getting some political support from the superindtendent over the years?
Its sad it is that you have to bring in politics to the situation. This is about an ethical issue. Civil conversations..a community coming together to say we have opinions and want them to be heard. The people that were there were not just democrats.. and not just kids.. they were members of the Oxford community who want the BOE to as you name suggests… DO WHATS RIGHT. The rally was wonderful. Thank you to all who attended. The fight is now over. Next step will be to show up in mass for the BOE meeting..
Actually, who did we not see there last night? There were no members of the Republican Town Committee or the BOE. That speaks volumes for them as the anti-education, anti-union party. Where were they, probably working together to figure out how to do the same to the teachers union.
Eyes, the contract is a public document and the terms are all known. This is not a personnel issue, so there is no problem with discussing it in public, don’t you understand this?
This BOE and its leader are acting inappropriately and will be held accountable if the Superintendent sues the town, which will probably happen.
This is 100% the fault of the BOE and its so-called leader, done for political purposes!
Debbie, MADR, Schwab and the rest of the democrats (yes, I consider Schwab and DeBisshop democrats because they support all the DTC initiatives and then call themselves republicans) have created such bad policies for this town and then try and claim that the other party is political and will cost taxpayers – when it is in fact the ineffectiveness and politics of the previous board of education that is responsible costing the district hundreds of thousands of dollars
Here is my main concern: The action of the board, in my opinion, was illegal. The executive session is not allowed under CT FOI rules so any actions taken that night are void. Therefore the vote to void the contract is itself void. Also the opinion that the contract is illegal and void is just that, an opinion of the board attorney. Only a judge can decide matters of law. I have discussed this with several uninterested attorneys who have all stated they could not fathom a judge throwing out a contract over such a dispute even if the clause is deemed illegal. As one put it, if you have a vase with a defect, a judge is going to try to fix the vase before destroying it to start over. The BOE better hope this does not go to litigation so don’t be surprised if they declare, for the betterment of the kids, they extend the contract one year but maintain their conclusion that the contract is void hoping Palmer takes the time to find new employment. Meanwhile we lose a finance director, ass’t in his office, Superintendent’s admin ass’t, ass’t principle and have a superintendent spending the next several months looking for a new job. Great management!
DoWhatsRight…it is the CURRENT BOE who just put this years budget together and it is the CURRENT BOE who went out for quotes for new Medical Insurance and guess what, they UNDER BUDGETED to the tune of almost $300,000. Where are they going to get the money to cover their mistake? How are they going to pay for all the new teachers they promised when they don’t have it in their budget because of the amateurs they have on the finance subcommittee? Let’s see them explain another one of their blunders.
This is absurd! Dave McKane is way off base here and is getting bad info from his sources. We budgeted 3.4m which is exactly what the CBC stated. Dowhatsright and others do not believe what these people say – get the facts first. I’m sure the Finance subcommittee would be happy to show anyone the real numbers if they call and request them.
Carol, there is nothing unethical about the actions of the BOE. You are using the same old arguments that you somehow care for the ‘kids’ but you are nothing but political. I don’t think anyone even would take your words seriously, certainly not the parents or Board members I know – I won’t be intimidated by you or anyone else and you won’t force our resignations like you did of past Board members.
How many kids were told (coerced) by teachers or parents to do all this? The kids are being used as political pawns and this is shameful!
By the way, what are all these people afraid of? Accountability perhaps? Isn’t it about time to focus on improvement in our schools? Most people would agree that there is good and bad in every system and Oxford is no different. The people of Oxford voted in November and their vote seemed to indicate there unhappiness at the way the previous board was operating. Why can’t we let these new board members do their jobs and let the results be the judge in the end.
…Because these current BOE members are a bunch of amateurs who have opened the BOE to a lawsuit for their political actions and that is why we can’t let them continue down their reckless path.
Macchio is a coward for not addressing the Superintendent’s issue and hiding behind McKinnon’s excuse that it is in the hands of their lawyer. He, like the rest of them, cannot show any cause for her dismissal other then a couple of words in a contract. No audit, present or past, has shown anything other then a clean bill of health from the auditors.
The only person to ever say anything negative about the Superintendent is Augie Palmer and when you consider the source, you have to laugh!
This BOE is a joke, but I have to hand it to McKinnon and Macchio because they have finally succeeded at one thing, making themselves, this BOE, and Oxford look like a bunch of fools.
Who cares how many people were there. I didn’t see anyone walking around taking a headcount unless it was the well-known Republican standing in the middle of it all with his piece of paper and pen taking notes. Dr. Palmer was never one of his favorites. Matter of fact, he quit the BOE when he couldn’t get his way.
The bottom line is, it was nice to see so many young people there fighting for what they believe in; they had even started their own petition! The community had come together for once. And, as I understand it, the petition represents ALL political parties. So much for being political!
Good morning . . .
An earlier version of this article had a sentence insinuating that the Mary Ann Drayton Rogers stated the political party of certain members of the BOE.
She didn’t — it was an editing error on our part.
Story has been updated.
eth·i·cal   
–adjective
1. pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct.
2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, esp. the standards of a profession:
Maybe with the help of the definition of the term ethical so of the BOE members will now understand why people are saying it is unethical behavior the way things have been handled..
As far as the budget issue. The BOE factored in retirements which are not happening. They also removed the salary of the assistant prinicpal before realizing what the wording was in her contract about retention of a position. Right there leaves a hole in the salary line.
You can all jump on the political bandwagon and name call and be as negative as you want. But I want to know when my child’s education is going to become a priority for this board. Sure which we had recall in Oxford.. to get some people that would really work for my kids rather than cause staff to leave and teacher and administrators wondering.. whose next.
That’s an easy question to answer, leave it to McKinnon, Macchio, and the rest of the Republican BOE members and it will be the teachers who become the target in their ccross-heirs
Both the secretary and the business Mgr. left to pursue the all mighty dollar,they both were offered positions in other districts so good luck in their new positions.
That is not the fault of the BOE. It was their choice to do so and were not forced out.
Anyone who got their children involved should be ashamed of themselves they are children and this is not a school project and non of their concern.
The last BOE is responsible for this and the lawyers that wrote the contract by not correcting any mistakes in it for 8 years.
It’s about time something has been done to protect the taxpayers in Oxford.
The kids got involved because the are upset.. NO teacher forced anyone.. If you were there and listened to the speeches of the kids you would understand their feelings. But Im sure you were not and are just using the same old Oxford political comments about kids as pawns. Many of the kids that spoke or that attended at 18 and will be VOTERS soon. They will certainly remember the names of the people who have been involved with this situation. Yes.. I understand there is an issue with the language.. but can anyone who has posted here tell me why the current BOE did not talk to the superintendent and ask her to change it.. Maybe the answer is that this is exactly what some in town have been hoping for years. I hope that everyone remembers the behavior of this board. I know I will be reminding people..and so will the kids.
Don’t forget to register all the kids to vote before they graduate. This BOE is doing a good job.
I think all you Dems are just sour grapes because you lost the election in a land slide.
Remember the vote was bipartisan to void the contract, but let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story and blame the republicans.
The people in oxford knew who they were voting for and why.
Actually, the kids are rather excited to register to vote as they stated in several different conversations overheard at the rally.
The only good thing this BOE is good at is canceling meetings.
I personally didn’t run for any type of office but the top two spots were awarded to the democrats, end of story. The people have spoken and now with all those so-called “sour grapes,” wine is made and the Town moves forward in yet another positive direction under the leadership of two fine individuals.
The contract vote was bi-partisan but some of those who originally voted “yes” are second guessing what they’ve done. But like everything else in life, you live and learn.
As far as the people who voted in November, I don’t think they’ll be making those same mistakes again in two years because they’ve also signed the petition.
The people did vote and I agree with eyes that these democrats and old board members are just upset that they were ousted. They are campaigning for 2011 already and trying to rile people up.
The more a read the more obvious it becomes that the BOE is bluffing. They have no solid basis for voiding the contract just a law firm that I would not be surprised to learn was hired because they promised to break contracts. They are playing games with our educational system and for what..their own personal amusement, vendettas? They are becoming a bad joke and bring Oxford down with them. And no “Do What’s Right” I am not, nor ever have I been, a Democrat.
I hope that tonight’s graduation ceremony will be exactly that – a graduation ceremony, a ceremony celebrating the achievements of this very first senior class. I expect that since it is the first graduation for the high school, some speeches will include thanks to Dr. Palmer for working hard to make sure we have a high school. Without a doubt, those comments would be included even without this current situation. However, it would be in very poor taste for anyone to use tonight in order to push the “Save Our Superintendent” issue. Although many folks want to show their support for Dr. Palmer, the rally was a good opportunity for that. Please keep in mind that these kids deserve to have their graduation focusing on them, not on the superintendent. The bickering can continue tomorrow.
No minutes posted on-line from the June 10th Finance/Personnel meeting. The BOE played the same delay game with the minutes during the budget process. Mr. Lavin afraid to post the business of this board to let the voters/taxpayers see what they are up to?