By Amy Wallace
The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education is taking steps to build a sense of teamwork among its members following a heated election and the addition of two new members in May.
“Members of the board took part in a retreat Sept. 25 and 26,” board member Wendy Swearingen said at the board’s meeting Tuesday. “We were honored to have the executive director of the New York State School Board Association, Tim Kremer, join us on the retreat.”
Swearingen, a first-term board member, detailed the results of the retreat and laid out areas the board wanted to improve upon.
“Some of the accomplishments of this board and the previous administration include the hiring of Superintendent Chris Roser,” she said. “We have a new legal team and have made progress on Phase II of the capital project.”
Swearingen said the board also has developed a flat spending plan and has overseen many instructional improvements within the district.
“Current issues we are still working on include ending any lingering mistrust among board members,” Swearingen said. “We want to maintain a focus on our goals; define the roles of board president, board members and the superintendent and improve the public image of the board. As you know, we’ve had a pretty bad rap in the news media lately.”
Members agreed the board needs to function as a team and work toward long-range financial planning goals.
“Some of the ideas proposed included having an earlier start to the budget process,” Swearingen said. “The board also wants to work on having less executive sessions when possible and having less micromanaging among members.”
Other ideas included new administrative staffing proposals for the superintendent’s office and possibly holding a second monthly board meeting when necessary.
“We want open, honest communication and the acknowledgment of any personal agendas,” she said.
But some personal issues still appeared to remain, specifically the subject of lawsuits.
“April (Fideli) wasn’t at the retreat,” board member Ed Waller said. “At the retreat, all of the board members present agreed to not sue each other except for Mike Gentile.”
Gentile said he “must have misunderstood the question.”
Waller then asked Fideli if she would agree to not sue other board members.
“We’re here for the kids,” Fideli said. “A lawsuit wouldn’t be in the best interest of what we’re here to do which is help the students of this district.”
