Lew-Port Board adopts 2005 budget plan, calls for alternatives

Tuesday session proves contentious

by Larry Austin
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 2, 2005

After adopting a 2005-2006 school budget with a zero percent spending increase Tuesday, the Lewiston Porter Board of Education directed its school superintendent to provide three alternative plans that could potentially save jobs.

The boarded voted 4-1 to adopt a $35,037,850 spending plan. Members Lou Palmeri, Len Palumbo, David Schaubert, and Ed Lilly voted in favor of the plan, while Jack Burmeister voted against. Members Dr. Nils Olsen and Carol Rogers, on record as opposing the plan, were absent.

The current plan cuts approximately 20 teacher and staff jobs.

Also at the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of Middle School principal Jill Sherman, and voted to put up for referendum a proposal to reduce the board from seven members to five.

Absent alternative spending plans from the administration, the $35 million budget number will stand.

Board’s Goal

In explaining his support for the budget plan, Palumbo said the board’s goal is to present a budget that district voters will approve in the May budget vote. If the budget does not pass, spending on capital projects, and programs in sports, music, and arts “immediately are put in jeopardy because they are not deemed absolutely necessary or essential” under state education department rules, Palumbo said.

A budget without cuts would likely fail, Palumbo said, in light of last year’s large budget increase.

“People voted on a budget with numbers that proved to be incorrect,” he said. “Those people are angry. Those people will be out to vote May 17.”

“If all you do is complain about cuts and not offer any alternatives, it’s called whining,” Schaubert told the audience. “I don’t want to cut anything either, but the reality is that something’s going to have to go.”

Wants Alternatives

A motion by board Schaubert’s directs Dr. Whitney Vantine to produce alternatives.

“I’ve been asking for the last two school board meetings for alternatives,” Schaubert said. “And I haven’t heard any. I very specifically ask that question every board meeting. Have you got any changes? And the answer is no. So we move forward.”

Unless alternatives come up to change the dollar amount of the budget, Schaubert said, the $35 million budget will take hold.

Schaubert’s comments followed a lengthy community comment portion of the meeting, during which speakers from the audience of over 150 pulled no punches in criticizing the board.

Rick Sweeney, an eighth grade teacher in the middle school, objected to letters board member Len Palumbo has written to The Sentinel, calling them “borderline scandalous.” He said Palumbo’s assessments of the 2004 Western New York school achievement indexes published in Buffalo Business First, show Palumbo has an “agenda of blaming teachers for the shortcomings that really aren’t there.”

“Large amounts of the whole truth were left out because these facts would undermine his attempts to blame teachers for academic shortcomings that do not exist,” Sweeney said.

“His actions are disturbing and irresponsible,” Sweeney said, “cold and calculated.”

Lewiston Porter Middle School teacher Richard Sweeney criticized Board member Lenny Palumbo’s recent guest editorial which appeared in the Sentinel. (Larry Austin photo)

Palumbo Responds

Later in the meeting, Palumbo responded by saying the N.Y. state education website lists Lew-Port seventh of ten schools in Niagara County terms of Regents test scores.

“I think we can do better than that. I don’t think we should settle for less than that. And that’s rubbing people the wrong way clearly that I’m calling attention to that,” he said. “It’s one attack after another.”

Other schools in Niagara County “spend less per pupil,” Palumbo said. “Their average salary per teacher is less, but somehow they’re managing to get their Regents test scores in the mid to high 80s. That’s something I think we should talk about.”

Regarding criticism of the board’s decision to cut a .5 cut to music teaching in the Intermediate school, Lilly said the administration is able to redistribute teachers.

"Rest assured, the music program will go on as strong as ever," Lilly said.

Coach Johnson Saga

Lew-Port High School sophomore Bettina Kaphingst, a member of the girl’s track and field team, told their board their decision on Coach Mark Johnson will greatly impact the team’s upcoming season. (Larry Austin photo)

Bettina Kaphingst, a sophomore member of the girls track and field team, said the board’s decision at its meeting March 15 not to appoint Mark Johnson to his post as girls varsity track and field coach “leaves us, the girls team, without a head coach and the possibility of not being able to compete this year.”

Noting that the 2004-2005 spending plan has already been set, Kaphingst said the money to pay Johnson is already budgeted.

“Mr. Lilly is trying to excuse himself from taking out a personal offense against one person while affecting so many more,” Kaphingst said. She added that approving the boys track and field coaches, while not approving a girls coach, is a violation of Title IX, a federal law that in part protects equality in participation in school activities at any educational institution that receives federal funds.

Mark Johnson asked the board to fill the girls track position. The first meet is set for April 6, “and we still don’t have a coach,” he said.

Volunteer coaching positions are not part of the Lew-Port teachers contract, effectively preventing Johnson from taking the job, he said.

‘Appoint somebody’

“Whether it’s me or somebody you had in mind, I implore you before you adjourn today to appoint somebody as the girls track coach,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the boys coaches who were appointed have been directed to coach both boys and girls teams.

“The point is that they’re not getting the coaching they would get,” Johnson said of his team.

Because of what he called insinuations against his integrity published in another newspaper, Johnson said he waived his right to discuss his status in executive session.

“I believe wholeheartedly, Mr. Lilly, the public should know exactly what’s going on and what’s happening so if somebody has a reason why I’m not suited to be a coach, I wanted it to be said in public,” Johnson said. “If I’ve done something that is detrimental to kids, then I shouldn’t be in the classroom either.”

Palumbo apologized, saying, “I didn’t mean to insinuate anything on Mr. Johnson’s character or anything to that effect.”

Regrets Vote

Palumbo said that his decision not to appoint Johnson was based on conversations with other board members, parents, and athletes, though he said he regretted his vote because he did not know at the time that the track season had already started.

Kaphingst added later that coaching situation has set back the team’s season.

“He’s the only one to coach high jump and pole vault,” Kaphingst said. “I guess we try to keep going, but I don’t know what will happen. I’m hoping that by the time we have our first meet we’ll have one so that we can compete.”

Lilly said after the meeting that Johnson would not be hired.

Student Sounds Off

Ashley Guiliani, a Lew-Port junior and a member of Save Our Schools, a student group, asked why the board can’t budget for a zero percent tax increase and use added commercial reassessment to allow for more spending on programs. Instead, the board is pursuing a zero percent spending increase.

“Lastly, I want to say I’m kind of disgusted at how rude Mr. Lilly has been,” Guiliani added. “Mr. Burmeister let you speak, Mr. Lilly. Why can’t you let him finish his comments like you do? You cut him off a couple times.”

“Mr. Burmeister speaks on behalf of the community,” she added. “I’m sure the voters in this room will remember your attitude come Election Day.” (See more remarks from Ms. Guiliani, on Page 4 in today’s Sentinel.)

Sherman Resignation

Guiliani was referring to Lilly’s efforts to quell comments by Burmeister regarding the resignation of Middle School principal Jill Sherman.

"Why don't the four of you explain how you forced her into this?" Burmeister said during discussion of Sherman.

“Jack, as a board member, you should know what’s appropriate and not appropriate,” Lilly responded.

The board voted 4-0, with Burmeister abstaining, to accept the resignation.

“In her time at Lewiston Porter, I found her to be extremely professional,“ School Superintendent Dr. Whitney Vantine said of Sherman. “Wisdom is knowing the next path to take, and integrity is taking it. In the case of Miss Sherman, she is showing us integrity.”

“I think she showed integrity in presenting herself as a good administrator to the district,” Vantine added. “She’s made a decision. The board has accepted the decision. We move on.”

Darlene Valente, a parent, said Sherman resigned because the board majority would not grant her tenure. “Therefore, she was strong-armed, and she was forced to put in her resignation.”

Lilly called Valente’s comments “off base.”