[August 12, 2011] Attempt to halt principal swap denied Tweet BEEKMANTOWN, Aug 10, 2011 (The Press-Republican - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The state education commissioner will not stop two Beekmantown Central School principals from starting the school year in new positions. In a controversial move, a split School Board last month swapped High School Principal Garth Frechette and Cumberland Head Elementary School Principal Diane Fox. A group of former School Board members filed a petition requesting the education commissioner first stop the transfer, decide whether it should take place and remove the School Board members. It may be several months before the latter two requests are ruled on. "It is unfortunate, because it would have been nice for the kids to start the school year with the principal they thought they would have," said Holly Sims, a former board member and one of the petitioners. BUDGET TROUBLES The School Board is embroiled in controversy as it also deals with a contingency budget that has resulted in layoffs. The board's first 2011-12 budget passed by a narrow margin, but the district petitioned the State Education Department for a re-vote after discovering one of three voting machines contained incorrect figures. There was also concern that district employees attempted to inappropriately influence the vote and that a district newsletter seemed to overstate layoffs if the budget should fail. The public soundly defeated the budget in the second vote. The board adopted a contingency budget, which has resulted in several layoffs and other cuts. PRINCIPALS SWITCHED Then, the School Board voted to swap Frechette and Fox, with what appeared to be at least five board members going over the superintendent's head and the opinion of fellow board members. Voting yes for the position changes were Stanley Kourofsky, Cathy Buckley, Richard Lavigne, Leonard King, Carole Race and Pauline Stone, with Steve Trombley, Ed Marin and Karen Armstrong voting no. Since the swap, the community has publicly called board members out and submitted at least two petitions. One, signed by 185 residents, requested the board hold a special meeting and allow residents to vote on whether they want the swap rescinded and whether they have confidence in the board. The other, presented by Sims, Frank Hay and Jane Donahue, requested the education commissioner stop the transfer, consider reversing it and remove the School Board. 'NOT SURPRISED' "They didn't give us the stay, which means the principals stay where they are until the case is decided," Sims said. "They said that could be six to eight months. "Certainly, we would have loved it if he had approved the stay, but I am not surprised. The board has a lawyer, and lay people did our petition." School Board members have said they can't discuss personnel issues, though Trombley said it is unlikely the swap will be reversed. Superintendent Scott Amo, who was surprised by the swap, has declined to comment on specifics of the board's decision. At Tuesday night's School Board meeting, Debbie Passno said the School Board was ruining the reputation of the School District, largely because of its recent actions and the way it cloaks itself in secrecy. "I'm very saddened by what is going on in this district," she said. "We are not just going to sit idle for this. People have had it." Email Stephen Bartlett at: [email protected] To see more of The Press-Republican or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://pressrepublican.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]