School board president rescinds resignation
SUSSEX BOROUGH — School board President Thomas Card withdrew his resignation at the beginning of the Sussex-Wantage School Board meeting on Wednesday, May 20.
He also apologized for acting hastily and drawing negative attention to the board. Finally, he thanked members of the board and community for their words of encouragement and support.
On May 13, Card verbally resigned and walked out from the school board meeting due to questions regarding three of his family members listed on the 2015 summer care hire list. Three school board members: William Bolella, Robert Heiden and Kenneth Nuss voted against the Summer Care Hiring List to table the motion because Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz could not answer, at the time, how many people had applied and were hired for the positions.
On the May 20, Apryasz said that everyone who applied for the Summer Care Program was on the list to be hired, no candidate was turned away.
Two-hour executive session
After an uncharacteristic two-hour executive session, Heiden said he whole heartedly supports the Summer Care Program. However, some things need to be tuned up, such as the advertisement of positions. Heiden also suggested the agenda come out sooner in order to improve transparency, along with applicable attachments at meetings. He researched other boards, and Sparta in particular had everything available almost immediately on their website
School Board Member Janice Mezier agreed with Heiden. Nuss said the public should know ahead of time what will be discussed, and Bolella said having the information online would reduce the administrative burden.
The board unanimously approved the 2015 Summer Care hiring list, with Card abstaining. School board Member Walter Krynicky was absent.
During public comment, Amber Simons expressed frustration with the lack of communication between the board, administration, and public regarding issues raised by the public at meetings or individually. She also said it was only appropriate that members of the board questioned Card regarding who was on the Summer Care hire list in order to ensure transparency.
Ryan Coyle thanked the board for their discussion regarding transparency. He had brought to their attention earlier that agendas at the school board meeting did not include pertinent attachments for the public.