LEW-PORT: More to superintendent candidate’s story

Board members were aware of some problems, but not harassment lawsuits

By Caitlin Murray<br><a href="mailto:murrayc@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Caitlin</a>

A background check into a superintendent candidate in the Lewiston-Porter Central School District has apparently missed a few things, according to documents obtained by the Gazette.

Within the past two years, Oren Cook, one of the two finalists for the vacant superintendent position in Lewiston-Porter, has had a number of problems in his previous school districts — including being sued three times for his treatment of district employees.

A secretary in the Marcus Whitman Central School District, where Cook has been superintendent since 2005, is accusing Cook of firing her after she protested “sexual and offensive” remarks made toward her on a regular basis.

In a suit filed June of last year, which is still pending, 52-year-old Paulette Willemsen wrote that Cook “stared” at her in a “lustful manner” as she did her office work and told “sexual and/or off-color” jokes. She also alleged at two separate staff meetings, Cook “patted his lap with his hand and invited the plaintiff to sit on his lap.”

The woman also alleged “Mr. Cook engaged in this type of behavior during prior employment, which also resulted in complaint(s) being brought against him.”

In another suit filed May of last year, which was mutually dismissed by both the plaintiff and Cook, 56-year-old librarian Betsy Kelley accused Cook of firing her due to age discrimination shortly after he was made Marcus Whitman superintendent.

About six months into his role as superintendent, Cook allegedly asked the plaintiff questions about her age and retirement plans — questions she declined to answer. One week later, she was dismissed from her position as a librarian after six years. At a subsequent meeting, Cook was “very intimidating, threatening and hostile,” leaning over his desk and pointing his finger in the plaintiff’s face, the suit alleged.

A 2006 civil suit filed by Adirondack Central School District secretary Debra Burns alleged Cook denied promotions to which she was entitled after she expressed support for a school board candidate Cook opposed. Cook worked in Adirondack from 2002 to 2005.

A U.S. District Court judge ruled in October 2006 the plaintiff's “free speech retaliation claims” were sufficient for a trial, but Cook told the Gazette Thursday the lawsuit is still pending.

Cook declined to directly address the accusations in any of the three lawsuits, saying they were “personnel matters” and it would “not be appropriate to comment,” but did note the Marcus Whitman Central School District, not Cook himself, was named as the defendant in the two most recent lawsuits.

“From time to time, there are those kinds of actions against the district and generally the superintendent is named,” Cook told the Gazette, “but it’s part of the challenge of resolving problems that might exist in a school district.”

Robert Laub, president of the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education, told the Gazette Cook had explained there were some problems in his previous district, but the board was not aware of the lawsuits.

“That’s one of the drawbacks about doing your own superintendent search — you don’t hire private investigators,” Laub said. “We’re relying on the district superintendents and you hope this stuff comes to the surface.”

The problems Lewiston-Porter board members did know about include the December 2007 firing of a popular science teacher — a decision that came under fire from parents. The teacher, students and parents were not given a reason for the dismissal, but some parents speculated it was because the teacher was openly gay, according to the Daily Messenger, a newspaper in Rochester that covers the Marcus Whitman district.

Cook’s contract in Marcus Whitman had not been renewed after his initial three-year agreement expired either, according Laub, but when contacted by the Gazette, members of the Marcus Whitman school board declined to comment on Cook’s departure, only saying he had submitted a letter of retirement.

Cook was not originally a finalist for the position in Lewiston-Porter. After Ed Lilly and Scott Stepien were reinstated to the school board and joined the ongoing search, they pushed for Cook to be named a finalist after another candidate withdrew his bid.

Lilly said he liked how Cook “cleaned up” his previous district and past problems do not discount him from the position in Lew-Port.

“Mr. Cook explained to my satisfaction the problems that existed in the district and the retaliation that continued after his cleanup,” Lilly said. “... Anyone who is going to insist on accountability is going to face extreme opposition.”

Laub said the board will have to investigate the lawsuits and discuss Cook’s candidacy at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday — but Cook is still a viable candidate the board is considering.

Cook told the Gazette he had not told the Lewiston-Porter school board about the lawsuits but said, “It’s something I would’ve probably mentioned if I were selected to be the person for the position.”

He’s hopeful he will be that person.

“Lew-Port is headed in a good direction,” Cook said. “It would be a great opportunity and great challenge to lead a district like Lewiston-Porter and I’m very optimistic I would lead the district well.”