I voted No to the appointment of Christine Syriac as the next Superintendent of Schools for Seymour for the following reasons:
1. I maintain my opposition to this candidate for the same principal reason as when I voted against Ms. Mascolo’s appointment; I refuse to be forced into voting for a hand-picked candidate without having had an opportunity to interview any other(s).
2. Whereas in the past this board has involved parents, teachers, etc. in the selection of school principals and assistants, certain other board members rejected outright suggestions to involve anyone other than the board itself in making the decision for the single most important position affecting the entire district and its children.
And the board did so, although legally, without transparency and opportunity for input from leaders and members of the schools and community.
I believe that this decision may well result in the board being viewed as arrogant and uninterested in community input, thereby increasing negative feelings by the community in the future when the board will need its support.
James Garofolo
Member, Seymour Board of Education
