Sparks Fly At

School Bd. Meeting

By M. Frith

Last week’s first meeting of the year for Community District 18’s school board, which took place at P.S. 279 Annex, started off with sparks flying as members came to grips with a resolution that, ironically, was to establish their own future behavior.

The clash came as board members addressed the first resolution on the agenda, which proposed procedures meant to improve the behavior of board members during sessions. There were eight mandates under the heading of the motion. Conduct addressed by the mandates included board members’ tardiness, speaking out of turn, name calling, and the distributing of printed materials to the public.

Board members Mark Fertig, Lloyd Roberts, Abu A.Q. Abu, and Julia James argued against the resolution vehemently. Fertig appeared perturbed by the edict regarding board members’ prompt arrival for scheduled gatherings. "My mother taught me that when I was ten years old," he said.

Roberts said, "This resolution should not have been discussed in a public meeting...I can not support something that will go down as a disgrace to this board." He went on to suggest the board engage in a self-evaluation as an alternative.

The most startling argument against the motion came from M s. James, who is a former board president, when she questioned the legality of such a resolution. "This is a direct contradiction to (School Board) by-laws," she said. She underscored her assertion by pointing to the lack of authors included in the written resolution. According to James, "The by-laws state the authors should be included in resolutions."

The current president, Donna Pensabene, responded to James’ argument about the legality of the motion by twice verbally acknowledging that she, Lawrence Cohen, and Jack Zimmer were the authors and by stating that the resolution was submitted to the board’s central office. Pensabene clarified, "The resolution is simply about setting down procedures to facilitate smoother meetings. We’ve tried just saying these things in the past...it doesn’t work. People just continue to interrupt each other."

The motion passed as the authors of the resolution, along with members Dominick Andreassi and Josephine Johnson voted in its favor.

Three other resolutions created by James, Abu, Roberts, and Fertig followed the passing of the controversial motion. Resolution II proposed a safety forum to examine security issues in District 18 schools. Resolution III resolved to use budgeted funds to advertise District 18 schools as a means to keep students in the district. Resolution IV resolved for the board’s adding a permanent welcome and acknowledgment component to its agenda for elected officials and their representatives, leaders of recognized civics associations, and board members from other districts.

Fertig and James expressed skepticism on the passing of these resolutions indicating the divide within the board. James said, "Whenever minority members bring a resolution, it is voted down by this board...you will see what goes on here...the discrimination."

Recently-widowed Josephine Johnson, an African American member of the board who voted with Pensabene, Cohen, Zimmer, and Andreassi on the first resolution, expressed her resentment of James’ assertion, remarking that she voted based on the issues not on race. She further stated that such an opinion was "convenient."

In the voting, Resolution II and IV passed. Resolution III failed.

The meeting ended with several speakers, among them was Monica Abend of Wyckoff House’s education department who announced the landmark house’s interest in assisting district schools’ in educating its students.