Lew-Port begins search to fill board seats

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, August 11, 2007

The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education announced this week that it has been informed by its district attorneys on the need to fill the two open school board seats vacated by the June 30 removal of Ed Lilly and Scott Stepien, who were found guilty of misconduct on charges they failed to fulfill state Education Department requirements by not attending a mandated fiscal training session.

School Board President Robert Laub informed that as a result, the board is now accepting applications from interested residents to fill the open seats, which will be made by board appointment, rather than a special election. “We were informed by our attorneys we have 90 days to fill the positions,” says Laub. “As a central school district, we need to fill them. Otherwise it (the appointments) will be made by Dr. Clark Godshall,” who serves as superintendent of Orleans-Niagara BOCES.

Laub, noted that the state Education Department holds the final decision on whether Lilly and Stepien, who are appealing the ruling, can ever return to the Lew-Port School Board. Regardless he says, the board has to move to fill the vacancies.

“We need to start a process going, just in case. It’s the law,” says Laub.

He adds that interested parties should forward a letter indicating their interest, along with their qualifications, to Debra Sherman, District Clerk, Lewiston-Porter Central School District, 4061 Creek Road, Youngstown, NY 14174.