Shortly after the March 13th school bond vote, I received an anonymous email telling me the school district did something that might raise eyebrows. The email said that school personnel looked over voting records of the December 12th vote to find out names of the faculty, staff and family members who did not vote the first time the school bond was put up for a vote and was defeated. Those individuals then were sent an email suggesting they might want to vote for the second school bond vote. Also, the head of the teacher's union was reminded to be sure to get the people who did not vote the first time out to vote this time and to remember that the teachers' contract negotiations were this year.
I didn't write anything on this blog regarding this anonymous email because I didn't have any proof and I didn't want to make unfounded allegations. Today I still cannot confirm the validity of this anonymous email, so I will let you decide for yourself if the allegations are true. However, a person who stated they were a teacher from New Hartford School recently wrote on the Observer Dispatch Story Chat and I quote, "As for the memo, I do not remember anything stating your contract is up for renewal." Well, I guess there was indeed a memo sent out for the second school bond vote.
We doubt that Mr. Gilligan would be so foolish as to put a threat in writing; however, our anonymous email told us that it was spoken to union representatives. You decide!
Then, out of the blue, another anonymous email is sent to me right after the March 29, 2007 Town special election and this time a memo is attached to the email. Please read!
Now just why would New Hartford Central School Superintendent Dan Gilligan, who doesn't even own property in New Hartford and probably doesn't even live in New Hartford, be sending out a memo on school letterhead to All Faculty & Staff regarding the Town of New Hartford Bond Vote on March 29, 2007?
The first thing that comes to mind is "Partnering with the New Hartford Central School District" that was splashed all over the Town of New Hartford website!
Think about it--this smells of impropriety and really makes one wonder if the first anonymous email I received was indeed accurate. I will let you be the judge.
Think about how many people are employed by the school and town, their families and friends. New Hartford residents better start waking up to the shenanigans of this "school and town partnership" or we will end up with little voice in any vote in town, whether a school budget or another special town bond vote or a town general election.
Forewarned is forearmed!!
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electioneering - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Electioneer \E*lec`tion*eer"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p.
Electionered; p. pr. & vb. n. Electioneering.]
To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts
for securing the election of a candidate.
[1913 Webster]
A master of the whole art of electioneering.
--Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
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There has been a charge of "Electionering" which was allowed by the School Superintendent (Daniel Gilligan) with the FULL blessing of the New Hartford School Board.
To make matters worse, I learned when it was brought to the attention of the school superintendent; this voter was not treated very nice and in fact, somewhat rude and dismissed as unimportant.
It is high time that the School Board of Education REMIND school administrators that their ACTIONS will not be tolerated just like the Schools recently adopted "No Alcohol" zero tolerance policy.
It does appear that we have different rules for different people. What we all forget is that "WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE" for our actions!
Suffice it to say, I am deeply troubled and saddened by this School Board in allowing this form of treatment to a resident who exercised a right to vote and was treated rudely.
I sincerely hope the Board of Education will investigate this matter coupled with the improper sending of Memo's to school personnel and too, the comments expressed to Union leaders concerning upcoming contract(s).
I meant what I said, "one's right to vote is sacrosanct." People were not meant to be subjugated to the whims of politically connected operatives between the school and the Town of New Hartford.
Please focus on etiquette, tact and diplomacy. YOU set the example by which our children follow.
The N.H.school board and the N.H. town board are different circuses with the same clowns.
IT'S only a few dollars in the BOCES vote. It's only a few dollars in the school vote .It's only a few dollars in the town vote.That's the price one must pay for living in hog heaven(A.K.A. New Hartford) where EVERYONE pays their fair share through their totally fair and accurate assessments.
And now a tax rate increase from the school board to complete the trifecta.
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