|
Manchester School Board Member Accuses Fellow Member Of Facebook Threats
MANCHESTER, Feb 14, 2012 (The Hartford Courant - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
-- Democrats on the school board are calling for the resignation of a board member after she promised to "bulldoze" another member on Facebook.
Republican board member Merrill Kidd posted "Don't ever patronize me again by telling me I did a great job. GOT IT!" to Democrat Kelly Luxenberg on Facebook on Feb. 8, according to a transcript of several postings provided by Luxenberg.
"I will bulldoze you. Promise," Kidd wrote according to the transcript.
Kidd's comments prompted the board's Democratic leadership to call for her resignation Monday night. Kidd "has a pattern of inappropriate verbal, email and text message communications" to fellow board members, board staff and the community that are counter to a school climate free of bullying and harassment, according to a news release from the board Democrats.
"We feel that board members who are unable to meet the high standards outlined above should not continue to serve on the board of education," the release concluded.
Kidd could not be reached immediately for comment. Board Chairman Chris Pattacini said he wants to meet with Kidd and Republican school board minority leader Michael Crockett to further discuss the issue.
"As board chair, it's important that I work to ensure that there's a proper operation of the board and that the legitimacy of the board and its members is not jeapordized," Pattacini said.
Luxenberg said the issue is not political, but rather a matter of Kidd crossing the line between legitimate debate and threatening behavior.
Time stamps on the Facebook posts indicate they were made between 2:37 a.m. and 2:58 a.m. on Feb. 8. Luxenberg said she did not reply to any of Kidds' comments.
"Don't srew with me Kelly," Kidd wrote, according to the transcript (misspellings are Kidd's). "Your looking outr for your husband (Democratic state Rep. Geoff Luxenberg, D-Manchester) and are backed by dem news papers. I have a plan. Do you? Bring iton Kelly. Your so phoney."
"Don't you ever shut me off again with you political [expletive] again," Kidd wrote in another posting. "Next time, it will not be pretty. Here here I am no shinking violet."
After consulting with board leaders and school board and town attorneys, Luxenberg said she took her complaint to the police. She said police told her they had spoken with Kidd and told her to cease such communication. A police spokesman could not be reached immediately on Tuesday.
"It's unfortunate that it came to this point," Luxenberg said, "but my family's safety, my safety -- I'm not going to put that in jeopardy."
The early-morning postings came a week after the school board approved a budget on Feb. 1. Kidd voted with the majority to add $400,000 to the school superintendent's proposed spending plan, money for additional personnel and capital improvements. Only one Republican, Crockett, voted against the additional spending, saying he could not support the expense of the added teacher and tutors.
After the meeting, Luxenberg said she told Kidd "she did a really good job. You did it for the kids." Luxenberg said she speculates that her comment led to Kidd's accusation about patronizing.
Republican Town Committee Chairman Matt Galligan said Luxenberg escalated an issue "that was purely a matter of 'heat of the moment' political argument and debate.
"Merrill Kidd remains a tireless advocate for the children of Manchester public schools, and debates centering around education and our students can get full-throated at times," Galligan wrote in an email.
"While we face schools in desperate need of repairs, the absence of a replacement superintendent for (interim School Superintendent Richard) Kisiel and parents who are seeing better educational opportunities for their children elsewhere, the Democrats have chosen to concentrate on a situation that they blew completely out of proportion," Galligan wrote.
"Mrs. Luxenberg should be reminded that the political realm includes vigorous and contentious debate, and may at times offend her sense of decorum," he continued. "The fact of the matter is, public servants need to quickly develop a thick skin while dealing with some of the most pressing issues before our community.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Mike Pohl wrote in an email, "Under Connecticut state law, if a student engaged in this behavior, the principal would be required to take action against the student that committed the act.I expect more from an elected official.
"This isn't politically motivated; this is a matter of an elected official threatening another elected official," he wrote. "Kidd is wrong. An adult on the school board should conduct themselves as an example to the children. I am more than disappointed. Merril Kidd should resign immediately."
___ (c)2012 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) Visit The Hartford Courant
(Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
