Tempers Flare Over Proposed Firing
The school committee recessed after a heated argument.
The proposed termination of a school department supervisor sparked heated debate at Tuesday night’s North Kingstown School Committee meeting.
Members Bill Mudge and Mel Benson called for the termination to be deleted from the agenda. According to Chair Kimberly Page, the item was actually being moved to closed executive session meeting in October at the request of the employee.
The termination was included on the committee’s consent agenda, considered to be routine items.
“It’s troubling to me that we would have the termination of an individual on the consent agenda,” said Mudge, who accused the school department of trying to “sneak it in” the agenda and claimed he was not given the proper supporting materials explaining the termination.
Other school committee members refuted Mudge’s claims that he did not have enough information on the item. Both John Boscardin and Lynda Avanzato told the committee they had made appointments with Superintendent Phil Auger and school administration learn more about the termination, and urged other members to do the same if they needed more information on an agenda item or issue. Committee members also pointed to a letter from the superintendent which “clearly outlined” the issues surrounding the termination
“I’m not going to let the continued misinformation be presented to the community,” said Committee Vice-Chair Larry Ceresi, who also told Mudge, “It’s in your packet. If you read your packet, it’s there.”
The packet, containing agenda items and support materials, is delivered to school committee members by email. Benson, however, receives her packet in hard copy form and claimed during Tuesday night’s meeting that she didn’t receive her packet until Saturday afternoon. She also told the committee and audience that, though her packet did contain Auger’s letter, the backup, supporting material was not included.
Tempers flared as members began speaking over each other, with Boscardin shouting, “This is buffoonery” after Mudge and Benson continued to speak over him. The committee quickly recessed for five minutes.
During citizen’s comments, Boscardin apologized to the audience for his outburst.
“I was totally unprofessional and I was totally out of line and will do my best to make sire it doesn’t happen again,” said Boscardin.
The committee will discuss the proposed termination in closed session in October. At this time, the school department is not releasing any details on the employee in question or the nature of the termination.
Compass Carrier
8:50 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
How the heck could a termination be considered an open agenda item for public hearing? Well, there's another lawsuit in the works......
NK Parent
10:47 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Why a lawsuit? It got moved to private executive session. You can't sue over something that didn't happen.
MeanE
11:35 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I was thinking the same thing NK Parent, but the question still remains as to why it was on the Agenda to begin with?
MeanE
11:16 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
So on 9/11 Larry talks about how they were on a slippery slope talking about terminations during open meetings. Then on 9/25 another termination is on the agenda? Interesting in that Boscardin flips out after Mudge and Benson ask him what he just said, right after he made the comment that he and others had spoken to Dr. Auger about the termination before the letter about the termination was written. Is this legal?
john boscardin
9:06 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
It is perfectly legal. During a typical, weekly routine phone call with the Superintendent, I was informed that a long-time employee of the High school was going to be terminated and that it would most likely be an unpopular decision. This was to serve as a "heads-up" as school committee members may be receiving emails or phone calls regarding this action. The Superintendent did not want me or any other School committee member to be caught off guard. No name was given, no department or specific job was mentioned. I urged the administration to be sure the personnel file was in proper order before any action is taken. I was assured it was. On Thursday the agenda was published and posted. After reviewing the agenda, I again discussed this matter with the administration, reminding them once again to be sure all documentation was in order. If I were not interrupted and accused of some sort of conspiracy, I would have explained this during the meeting.
MeanE
8:51 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Wow! Look what the cat dragged in. Your writing is a bit different on here since you became a replacement on the SC. You apologized for your unprofessional behavior the other night, now don't go messing that up by putting blame on Benson & Mudge here on the Patch. Some might say that your outburst is the "real" Boscardin, and if they read your pre-SC rants on the Patch, they might have a case. I will take your word for it that it was legal, but something tells me that the person being fired might not. For your sake, you had better be telling the truth, as it is now on video and in writing for all to see.
raven ciccone
11:18 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Was the individual's name on the public agenda? I need to stop missing meetings!
MeanE
11:26 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
No, her name was not on the agenda. In Citizens comments, a gentleman mentioned "her" and 27 years of service. In terms of missing them, view them online like I do. http://northkingstownschoolri.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx
Bob Coleman
4:40 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
They ALL sound like third graders
Support NK
5:10 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Please don't insult the 3rd graders :)
Dave
9:00 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Disagree. There are two 3rd graders on there. The rest are doing a good job.
Govstench
7:41 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
The committee needs to be house cleaned. Benson is already gone but someone needs to put a bridle on Mudge. It was good to see Page grow a set and threaten to remove Mudge from the meeting. Benson and Mudge have been playing a game with the stalling tactics. Perhaps if they both were given the escort out, more would get done.
MeanE
9:16 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
GOV - To me it's the chicken or the egg. Are Benson & Mudge "stalling" because that is their nature? Or is it possible that they are simply fed up with being "railroaded" and especially in Mel's case being disrespected both privately and publicly? Explain to me how you would proceed if you were in Mel's or Bill's shoes? Are they supposed to sit there and take it? I don't have the answer, but from what I can see, these 2 have done more for this community then the rest of the SC combined and should garner a little bit more respect from the chair and others on this committee. Mel may have lost a few miles per hour on her fastball, but her many years of involvement and love for this town and especially the kids has been incredible. Bill is as we all know rough around the edges and likes confrontation, but he was primarily responsible for uncovering the misappropriation of funds by past regimes. The axes on the stage have been ground well enough by those that have them. It is definitely time for new blood, with no lumberjacks needed.
Govstench
8:37 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
@MeanE - I have watched Benson and Mudge on the video and have attended a few meetings as well. Benson has a habit of constantly asking to hear the motion over and over. It is almost routine for her. That may be due to her age or, as I suspect, a political game she plays and a few times I actually caught her smiling to the crowd doing it. In the case of Bill Mudge, he is a fiscal watchdog and really gets into the inner workings of the budget. I have seen his work - it is very good. The problem he has is in articulating the facts without going into the weeds with it. Making a point on financials is a tough subject and usually looses the audience quickly. Being this committee has become so polarized with the current players, perhaps it is time the voters do a little investigating of the candidates who are running and perhaps change the playing field. Benson is not up for re-election which will remove the union advocate from the panel. Mudge is not up for re-election.
MeanE
9:33 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
Gov - Your points regarding Mel and Bill are well taken. In regards to the candidates, Mudge, Page, Boscardin, and Ceresi have their seats if they want to stay in them. Personally, I don't know why Boscardin gets to remain in his seat that he gained by default. IMO that seat should be open and John should have to run for it again. We have 3 Republicans (Bob Jones, Gus Manocchia, Cheryl Clarkin) and 1 Democrat (Lynda Avanzato) running for 3 seats. If the 3 republicans win, will Larry relinquish his seat? If so will Lynda take it? If Larry quit, and Lynda refused to take Larry's seat, who would fill that seat? I know I am getting ahead of myself here, but it could be a possible scenario, not likely, but something to think about. I need to find out more regarding these 3 newcomers, so that I can make an educated vote. I hope that Samantha posts about them soon. If any of you know these people, please share some pros & cons.
We R NK
9:49 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
You are so busy looking at the distractions that you are missing what is happening to our school department! It's a HOT MESS!!!!
Concerned NK School Parent
10:50 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
You’re right WRNK. But, Mr. B, the other four SC members and our Superintendent "dotted their I’s & crossed their T”s”. It’s all legal. You all had to collaborate to make sure you all agreed on the distorted story you would tell the public. You people have been doing this all year, why should this situation be any different. You didn’t want to be caught “off guard.” You’re so clinical. I can see another law suit coming. How many suits are pending now? How much more $$$$ are the taxpayers going to pay because of the bad decisions that you self-serving narcissists are making. That “long-time” employee you’re referring to has over 20 years of service with the NKSD. There was a time when we had human-beings on the SC and they would find this loyal employee another position. You don’t even know who she is. She & all of your employees are worth 100 of the Super & the 5 of you. If the NKSD receives awards it’s not because of the SC & the Super. It’s because of the teachers & the support staff. I am so glad people got to see the REAL John Boscardin Tuesday night. You’re in serious need of anger mgt. classes and you have no business sitting on that stage making decision that affects your employees and the children of this town.
JT McConnell
12:09 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
OK I have had it. Avanzato has been whispering in Ceresi's ear for a long time. Is this the culmination of that? We need people on our school committee who are not selfish manipulators. There is a reason that very well established and respected members of the community like Billy Mudge and Mrs Benson are frustrated to the point of not being themselves anymore!
Mark Williams
12:16 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
I am concerned, as a taxpayer and a parent (as well as a teacher), that this person may be getting 'railroaded'. However, I am not privy to the details so I will refrain from casting further aspersions without knowing all the facts...after all the American way is innocent until proven guilty...on both sides of the fence. I hope that this is taken care of properly so that money is not wasted that could be spent on educational needs in this time of austerity. Furthermore, let us hope that any misguided zeal to balance the books, or to perhaps to achieve a political end, is avoided. In the words of Senaca: "If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind". Remaining grounded in our educational community is vital so it does not self-destruct needlessly as we resolve our financial and political issues.
MeanE
8:55 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
I believe the dysfunction of the school committee and for that matter the town council as well, can be summed up by a simple quote that has been around for many years "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"
MeanE
9:04 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Samantha - Are you able to upload the exchange to the Patch? I think snippetts of the SC & TC meetings would be beneficial for the community to see here on the Patch if they are not able to attend these meetings or view the meetings in their entirety online. Video clips would be a great enhancement to these stories and provide the PATCH with additional SEO.
Samantha Turner
10:16 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
At this time, I am not able to upload the video here. Finding a way to embed TC and SC videos here has been on my list of things to look into. For now, I would refer everyone to the school department's (www.nksd.net) and town's (northkingstown.org) website where these meetings can be seen in their entirety.
MeanE
12:39 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Thanks for the update Samantha. I hope you can find a way. It will only add to your continued besting of other online media resources for local coverage.
Another NK Taxpayer
1:22 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
The divisiveness and issues we currently face in the NK School Department and with the SC stem from a lack of leadership at the top. It is becoming more apparent as these issues play out and the subsequent lawsuits that will surely follow. The discussion this week at the SC meeting of the termination of a long time employee of the NKSD is a case in point. Dr. Auger has taken responsibility for this dismissal and 5 members of the SC are following his lead. This is just the latest in his missteps which are is causing low employee morale, dissatisfaction, and showcasing the NKSD in a poor light . The combination of the Superintendent’s lack of leadership along with a dysfunctional SC is a recipe for disaster. The SC should have performed their due diligence when seeking a new Super. In today’s Journal Bulletin a proper job search for the replacement for the state airport director has resulted with 34 job applicants. Do we owe our residence and children in NK any less when making such an important decision? This Super & SC seem to favor conflict over compromise.
We R NK
2:06 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Another NK Taxpayer you have summed it up very well! Any committees that I have been on have always frowned upon hiring an interim, especially without interviewing other candidates. It is certainly the easy and lazy way out!! Looking for a super is certainly not a personality contest but I am beginning to think that's all we got!!! NKSD did not get where it is taking the easy way out. HARDWORKERS sweat has been the glue that has held this SD together! Due diligence is not an option it is a responsibility. We need to stand up for what is right and stop settling for mismanagement and personal agendas from our school committee and administration.