A town man has filed a complaint with the state Board of Education asking for an investigation over why a public hearing on the superintendent’s contract was allegedly delayed.
William Schmitt said the Oxford Board of Education should have held a public hearing three weeks after it received a petition from more than 300 local residents on June 17. By law it should have been held on July 8, Schmitt said.
The board instead will have a public hearing Wednesday, July 14 at 8 p.m. in the media center at Oxford High School. The petition asked the board to enter into good faith negotiations with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Judith A. Palmer.
On May 19 the board abruptly voided Palmer’s contract and extended it to June 30. On June 30 the board extended Palmer’s contract to July 31 so that an evaluation by the board can be conducted.
The petition asks for the retention of Palmer and asks the board to propose a new contract for her based on the similar terms and conditions of her original contract which was voided by the board.
As of late Tuesday the state Board of Education’s Office of Planning, Media and Constituent Services had not received the complaint.
“The Board of Education is failing to resolve a situation of direct concern to Oxford citizens in failing to schedule this hearing as required by law,’‘ said Schmitt, who has also filed a complaint against the school board with the state Freedom of Information Commission.
“The board needs to follow the law,’‘ Schmitt said.
Board member Michael Macchio said it is “unfortunate and disappointing,’‘ that the board could not have a meeting during the time frame. Several board members were on vacation and one was unavailable because of a death. Board member Paula Guillet did not respond that she was available, Macchio said.
“I believe this is an attempt (the complaint) by the Democratic party and former BOE members who are disgruntled, to make an issue where there is none,’‘ Macchio said.
He said the board did its best to schedule a meeting.
“We are talking about a couple of days here, not weeks or months, and this was due to extraordinary circumstances,” Macchio said.
Macchio said under the law, the time frame for a hearing on a petition refers to town meetings — and does not apply to the Board of Education.
Schmitt, whose wife Nancy was a former board of education member and now sits on the Board of Finance, denied his complaint was political.
“I went to one Democratic meeting 15 years ago. This issue has people upset from both parties,’‘ he said.
Guillet also denied charges she was unavailable for meetings.
“They never set a date for a meeting and I’m always available. I’ve only missed two meetings in more than seven years,’‘ she said.