The school board president responds to legal fees article

To the Editor: The Sparta Board of Education believes that matters involving personnel and students require sensitivity and respect for the individuals. Recently, Superintendent Dr. Morton released information to this newspaper that is not entirely accurate. As board president and spokesman for the board, I am providing important facts and corrections about matters covered in the recent Sparta Independent article. Three issues were raised in the communications from Dr. Morton’s attorney and the Principals Union. 1. Limiting access to legal resources. The board has initiated a process that is designed to oversee the cost and necessity for legal advice. It has not denied the superintendent access to legal advice. 2. Interfering with personnel decisions. The board has exercised its responsibility to approve assignments. The board clearly has oversight authority on matters regarding the transfer of personnel. The board denial of the personnel transfer included research and review of documents, including a letter from the involved school staff person that stated major concerns about the negative impact of the proposed transfer on support service’s ability to adequately serve students. 3. Improper handling of a parent’s complaint regarding a principal. There was a meeting with a principal and the board in closed session. The meeting, however, was suggested by a senior administrator, and the board followed that administrator’s recommendation and arranged for the principal to meet with the board. The board is confident that it has operated within the proper oversight role as outlined by the Sparta School District policy and New Jersey statue. The Oct. 26 Sparta Independent article stated that the school board has hired supplemental legal resources. This is an inaccurate statement. The board decided to divide the required legal work between two law firms. The Board researched area law firms and selected Morris, Downing & Sherred based on their prior extensive experience with New Jersey school boards, their research capability for educational issues, and their stellar legal reputation. This matter was thoroughly discussed at the August board meeting and approved by a majority vote of the board. The board has recently incurred additional legal expenses. The legal expenses are in large part due to the superintendent’s actions through his lawyer. It is important to clarify the role and responsibility of the school board and the superintendent. The Sparta School Board sets overall education policy. The superintendent is the chief school administrator and adviser to the board. The superintendent reports to the board and is expected to take direction from the board. Among other things, the superintendent is expected to keep the board informed on key school matters in a timely manner, research board requests, and effectively implement board policy. The board and administration each have important roles to support high-quality education in the Sparta schools, effectively oversee an approximately $50 million budget, and now oversee a $71 million renovation of the high school. The nine Sparta School Board members each voluntarily and without compensation invest several hundreds of hours annually to ensure effective board governance that Sparta residents expect and deserve. The board governance includes, among other things, providing policy direction to and management oversight of the superintendent. Sparta residents expect the superintendent to invest his time and energy in partnering with the board to achieve the district’s educational, financial and high school renovation goals and we would hope that the partnership reflects mutual respect and unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Michael R. Schiavoni, President Sparta Board of Education