Politics 201 and the B.O.E.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

I have heard that the BOE meeting last nite (1/24/2006) was rather contentious when some power politics was dispensed by the Majority Party on the BOE. I understand that the audio and video tapes of that meeting might become collector's items if they don't get lost or damaged. I thought that after the 11/2005 election, the Majority Party was going to usher in the "Age of Aquarius" - Redux.

Does anyone have details about what transpired and is willing to offer conjecture about the implications for the Town, the Public and the Children?

[ThinkingMama]

I did not see the meeting and now I am very curious about what I missed!

I thought you might be interested to know, however, that the approved minutes from the January 10th meeting were posted on the BOE website this morning, in record speed. Board secretaries have generally provided complete and accurate minutes, but timely posting was a bit of an issue.

This promptness must be a postive outcome from your campaign to shed light on the timeliness and completeness of board and commission minutes. Thanks again for your efforts.

[oldetowne]

My information is as follows:

There has been a vacancy on the BOE for a couple of weeks now, due to the resignation of recently-elected member John Adamian. Filling the vacancy is the duty of the BOE under the charter.

For one reason or another, Ms. Hodges, the current chair of the BOE, did not include the selection of a new member on the agenda for last night's meeting. Matt DeAngelo made a motion at the beginning of the meeting to add an agenda item, specifically the selection of someone to fill the vacancy.

The motion was seconded and was promptly defeated on a voice vote. The Democratic majority would not even permit discussion of the issue, much less a vote on who the successor would be. At that point, the two Republican BOE members left the meeting and a quorum was not present.

After a while, another Democratic BOE member arrived late to the meeting, making the quorum again. Several members of the public took advantage of their right to comment to criticize the blatant petty arrogant political actions of the Democrats on the BOE in refusing to even discuss filling the Republican vacancy.

My personal view of this is that there could only be three possible explanations of this action (or inaction) by the Democratic board members.

First, they could be being petty and trying to personally insult one of their fellow board members because it is likely that her son (who nearly won the election in his own right) would have been the candidate proposed to fill the vacancy. I would be embarrassed and ashamed for the town if this were the case.

Second, they could have been fearful that having that individual nomated to fill the vacancy would disrupt their "clubby" meetings by having difficult questions asked and by having someone up there who isn't nodding and smiling at whatever Dr. Proctor and his minions tell them as gospel. I would be scared and concerned for the future of our school system if this were the case.

Third, they could be doing what the Democrats have done in this town on several occasions when they have been in control - playing heavy-handed backroom politics and displaying the arrogance that comes with having a gavel and perceiving themselves to have a mandate. With a 6-2 majority, they can do as they wish (or as they are instructed) and they apparently will continue to do as they wish (or as they are instructed) until the voters once again say "enough!". I would pity them for their small-minded, despotic and disrespectful behavior if this were the case.

[ThinkingMama]

Is it going to take a writ of mandamus from the Superior Court to force the Board to comply with their charter obligation to choose a Republican to fill the vacancy? This is what it took for the Council to comply with their charter obligation to hold a referendum regarding athletic field lighting.

[RGarrey]

I always try to look for a positive reason why the Council or Board makes a decision. I am having trouble finding a good reason why the board would not even allow discussion on this. One poosible scenario is that the Democratic majority is planning to appoint a Republican of their own choice rather than allowing the Republican party to choose. I believe they did the same thing with another board, possibly Planning and Zoning. This would also be a slap in the face to voters who placed their vote for Tristan Stanziale, who was within a few votes of John Adamian. I guess I will try to remain optimistic that the right decision will be made but it doesn't look good.

[morganika]

It's always the same story with this board, no discussion allowed. Read between the lines folks:
We will be doing what we want, when we want and how we want. Everybody shut up and get out of our way.

[cruzrt]

How is it possible that Mr., Adamian resigns from the BOE, having just been elected in November and never attending a single board meeting (other than the swearing-in ceremony)? Did he die? Did he get convicted? How does the Republican Town Committee nominating process select such a person? I feel cheated; I threw away my vote.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

There is a saying: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Who would disagree with that sage observation?

Not only does this saying acknowledge the end point - absolute corruption - it also maps a precarious path.

Ms. Stacy Hodges (D) is not only the Chairperson of the Board of Education, she is the de facto captain of the ship. She is a personification of the controlling majority party there. This and what follows is not ad hominem.

There is currently a vacancy on the BOE, created by the resignation of one of the three, Republican members, John Admanian. The current Board, in Adamian's absence, leaves the Democrats under Hodges with not only a majority but also a two-thirds super-majority. This is more than enough for her and her Party to effect whatever contol they wish to apply over the Wethersfield Public Schools.

Unfortunately, they apparently have their feet firmly planted on that dangerous path.

Despite this overwhelming control of the BOE, Hodges havs rebuffed efforts by the remaining two, Republican members to nominate Tristan Stanziale. Mr. Stanziale had lost his bid for a seat on the BOE by only 4 votes, in November, 2005, to Adamian. This was confirmed by a recount.

Hodges has claimed that, per the Town Charter, the BOE has the right to fill the vacant Admanian seat with a citizen of their own choosing.

Wethersfield has long been a town whose citizens follow not only rules and regulations but whose citizens also observe healthy traditions. One of these, which applies here, is that the minority party members (in this case Matthias DeAngelo and Penny Stanziale) should not only be consulted about prospective candidates for filling such a vacant position, but they should also be allowed to nominate one from within their own ranks - especially a candidate who lost by less than a handful of votes.

The stonewalling by Hodges and her cohorts flies in the face of this good, Wethersfield tradition.

Such behavior on part of Hodges has been called phobic by some, mean-spirited by others, or just downright unfriendly by the more generous. Even ordinarily disinterested members of the public have noted that just because Hodges claims she and the majority party on the Board have the right to do this, her doing so is just not "right."

The posturing and maneuvering by Hodges and her supporters is a flagrant affront to the Voters of Wethersfield. The November vote demonstrated the will of the People. The voters ranked the candidates with their very votes. Tristan Stanziale was the next ranked candidate for the later abandoned Adamian seat.

Hodges' BOE is attempting to carry through their efforts to further minimize and marginalize the minority party's effectiveness on the decision making process for educational matters. This bullying usurps the will of the People in a most un-American and discriminatory manner. In the days which remain until the next regular meeting of the Board of Education, Hodges and her party have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the eyes of the voters and the People of Wethersfield. They should stop in their tracks and step off the dangerous path they are now on.

Hodges and her party should open new, friendly communications with the Board's minority party members. She should allow them to place Tristan Stanziale in nomination.

Finally, Chairperson Stacy Hodges should graciously encourage and, in the best traditions of Wethersfield, support a unanimous vote for Mr. Tristan Stanziale - so that he may fill what most in town consider to be his rightful seat on the Board of Education.

[oldetowne]

Thanks for the info. I would be pleasantly surprised if the Democrats do the right thing.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

oldetowne said:

...I would be pleasantly surprised if the Democrats do the right thing.

Wethersfield Board of Education
127 Hartford Avenue
Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109

Agenda for the Regular Meeting of the
Board of Education
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
7:30 p.m., Silas Deane Middle School
551 Silas Deane Highway
***PLEASE NOTE LOCATION OF MEETING***

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Selection and Swearing-In of Tristan Stanziale to Fill the Current Board of Education Vacancy (Ref. 1)

4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
a. January 23, 2006 Special Board of Education Meeting (Ref. 2)
b. January 24, 2006 Regular Board of Education Meeting (Ref. 2a)
c. January 25, 2006 Special Board of Education Meeting (Ref. 2b)
d. January 26, 2006 Special Board of Education Meeting (Ref. 2c)
e. February 2, 2006 Special Board of Education Meeting (Ref. 2d)

5. Public Comment

6. Communications

7. Action Items
a. Recommended Motion: Approval of Wethersfield Public Schools 2006-2007 School Calendar (Ref. 3)

8. Reports/Discussion Items
a. Budget Presentation on Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Programs (Ref. 4)
b. Board Requests for Budget Information: Analysis of Overtime Expenditures (Ref. 5)
c. Webb Project
d. Other Building Projects
e. Announcements/Information (Ref. 6)

9. Board of Education

a. Meetings Held (Ref. 7)
Special Board of Education Meetings, (01.19.06, 01.23.06, 01.25.06, 01.26.06, 02.02.06 & 02.09.06)
Community & Public Relations Committee, (01.24.06)
Town Council/Board of Education “Fireside Chat”, (01.28.06)
School Projects Building Committee, (01.30.06)
Shared Services Committee Meeting (02.06.06)
Human Resources and Personnel Committee Meeting (02.08.06)
Early Readiness Advisory Council Committee Meeting (02.13.06)

b. Meetings Scheduled
Community & Public Relations Committee (02.15.06 @ 5:30 p.m.)

10. Public Comment

11. Board Comments

12. Proposed for Executive Session

Discussion of Exempt Documents Pertaining to Bargaining Unit Negotiations

13. Adjournment

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

Mr. Adamian's memo-pad sized resignation "letter"

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

With hardly a hint of the contention and drama that went before, the currently seated 8 members of the Wethersfield Board of Education accepted the nomination by Matt DeAngelo and voted unanimously to accept teenager and former WPS student

TRISTAN STANZIALE

as the 9th member of the Board to fill the seat vacated by Adamian.

The Board is to be commended for, this time, doing the right thing, despite earlier intimations to the contrary.

Mr. Tristan Stanziale now has the obligation and considerable responsibility to question, learn, consider, participate and to become the best BOE member he can.

Congratulations, Mr. Stanziale!

[cruzrt]

To this day, there has never been an explanation of the circumstances around Mr. Adamian's leaving the BOE so soon after the election and without ever having participated in a meeting. He, as well as the Republican Town Committee, owe the voters a public explanation.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

cruzt wrote:

To this day, there has never been an explanation of the circumstances around Mr. Adamian's leaving the BOE so soon after the election and without ever having participated in a meeting. He, as well as the Republican Town Committee, owe the voters a public explanation.

I can understand your surprise if not disappointment. I also have to believe that these sentiments are felt by the WRTC too. I suggest you call Mr. Adamian (or write him a terse note - maybe on a Memo-Pad ) and ask him: why? Then you can report back to all of us.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

Well, I guess it's better late than never: the HC has gotten around to providing their 2¢ on Mr. T's ascension to the BOE dias.

18-Year-Old Student
Chosen For School Board

By ANN MARIE SOMMA
Courant Staff Writer
February 18 2006


WETHERSFIELD -- In November, Tristan Stanziale lost his bid to become the youngest person to be elected to political office in the state's oldest town.

On Tuesday, the 18-year-old made local history after all.

The school board unanimously elected Stanziale to fill a vacancy left by fellow Republican John Adamian, who resigned last month.

The win was sweet because Stanziale lost to Adamian in the November election by four votes.

"Who would have ever expected it," said Stanziale of his four-year term on the school board. "The [November loss] was a big shocker, but now I'm happy and proud of myself."

Stanziale's campaign in November raised some eyebrows. Some thought he was too young for the job; others were concerned because he dropped out of Wethersfield High School.

But those who know him say he's mature for his age.

"He has a tremendous amount of maturity and insight," said board member Matthias "Matt" DeAngelo. "Because he is a recent Wethersfield High School student, he'll have a perspective on how our policies impact the people who live with them."

Stanziale said he left high school in his junior year for health reasons. He later received his high school equivalency diploma and attends Capital Community College, where he is studying liberal arts.

During his campaign in November, he became a mainstay at school board and town council meetings, dispensing his opinion on a variety of issues. He attacked his Democratic opponents for taking credit for school projects begun under the former Republican-led school board.

He continued to attend meetings after the election to keep informed, and said he planned to run again in 2007.

Stanziale isn't a stranger to campaigns. For years, he campaigned for Republican candidates and for his mother, Penny Stanziale, a Republican serving a four-year term on the school board

"People thought he was ready to run two or three years ago, but legally he was too young," DeAngelo said.

Stanziale said he plans to tour district schools and talk to students about what's on their minds.

"We are there for them. They are the primary reason why we are on the board," Stanziale said.

Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant [/blockquote][/blockquote]