Schools
Board of Ed Defends Role of Executive Sessions
Northport-East Northport School District Trustee Joe Gannon's motions on the subject generate lively debate.
As a result of the debate at the Oct. 4 Board of Education meeting over the issue of executive sessions, Trustee Joe Gannon proposed four motions on the subject at the Oct. 25 Board meeting at the William J. Brosnan School.
The first motion read, "Now, therefore, be it resolved that all motions by the Members of the Board or Members of the Board's Audit Committee to enter into executive session must (i) state the general nature of the matter justifying entry into executive session and (ii) explain why the matter cannot or should not be discussed in public session."
Trustees Andrew Rapieko and Jennifer Thompson questioned the need for such a motion. Gannon responded, "There has been a perception expressed that there has been a lack of transparency with regard to these matters. A perception problem is a real problem."
Trustee Karen Wills said this issue had already been addressed when a member of the community had brought it up earlier in the year. She referred to a letter dated April 9, 2010 from the New York State Committee on Open Government which confirmed that the Board has been conducting executive session meetings properly.
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Trustee Donna McNaughton had some reservations as well and said she felt the board's progress was being impeded by focusing on a subject which had already been addressed.
Nina Dorata, a member of United Taxpayers of Northport-East Northport, said she had an opinion on the matter from the New York State Committee on Open Government, and would forward it to District Clerk Beth Nystrom.
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Trustee Karen Wills expressed some reservations that a board member might inadvertently disclose something by discussing the need to adjourn into executive session. Gannon replied that there should always be a way to be non-specific.
Denise Summers Mumm, a former Trustee and current member of UTN-EN, said she appreciated the motion, as well as the dialogue it generated.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the motion, but tabled the other three motions on the subject which will be reconsidered for discussion at future meetings.
