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Letter to Editor (Post Star and
Saugerties Times, 3-27-08)
School board
members respond to criticism (Tucker)
There's No Shame in the
Truth
Mr. Walter,
Your letter to the editor claiming Mr. George
Heidcamp and I are skipping over people who are
working on the roof problems, and your further
assertion that we are shaming the District, is an
absolute lie. Such a statement makes it clear to
all members of our Saugerties community that you
are clearly shooting from the hip with
misinformation. Of course, that is understandable
since we never see you at any BOE meetings, so your
information surely came out of the "Aunt Bea"
camp.
Mr. Rhau, Mrs. Nuciforo, Joe Dziadik and our
building supervisors were all aware of our tour.
Additionally, the Principals were advised prior to
the tour, and we did our tour at times when our
student population would not be disturbed. The tour
of these buildings was a direct result of the
numerous complaints about water leaks from staff,
students and parents. Mr. Walter, you blame
Mother Nature for "too much weather," but this
Board of Education is thankful, or we would never
have known the magnitude of the problem within our
buildings.
Under my leadership, the working majority of
this BOE is not and will not be part of a very
small group of people within our District, who just
go along without performing the oversight
responsibilities we are charged with as school
board members. WE, sir, are a working Board that
takes the time to investigate the truth, listen to
concerns, open communication among all levels of
our school community and then make informed
recommendations based upon hours of fact-finding.
WE do not just wait for an agenda once a month and
vote whatever the Superintendent wants, choosing
instead to question and make decisions that are in
the best interest of our District and the
Saugerties community.
So, Mr. Walter, if this is shaming the District,
you are clearly out of touch! A few members of the
BOE have been extremely disruptive and
disrespectful to the entire Board of Education, as
well as the public attending those meetings. Where
were your letters then? Concerned parents are not
responded to regarding their questions and
concerns, teachers are punished for speaking out
about problems in our District or chastised for
seeking equal opportunity positions under their
contracts, but you remain silent on these and a
whole litany of internal issues within our
District.
This community can be very proud of
accomplishments of our working Board members. I
challenge you, Mr. Walter, to ask Mr. Rhau, Mrs.
Nuciforo, Joe Dziadik, the principals, the STA
leadership, SESA leadership, the maintenance staff,
Craig Zandonella, or any other members of our
school community, if I have ever been anything but
respectful to them on any issue, including this
building project, and then I will accept your
apology!
Don Tucker
School board president
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