Editor's Note: This story was updated at 10 am to correct and clarify how a portion of the dinner bill was paid for by a trustee.
The turnout Tuesday night for Bayport-Blue Point residents to meet the newly hired district superintendent, Dr. Vincent Butera, was well attended by dozens of taxpayers and district staff but not every community member is happy on how the board of education welcomed the new school chief.
The community meet-and-greet, which followed a special board of education meeting to formally approve the hiring, was not without controversy as several parents said they are outraged that the district held a dinner at a Blue Point restaurant for staff and administrators to meet Butera prior to the community meeting.
Residents Rita Palma and Noel Feustel believe the BOE event at Blue was not an appropriate action given the budget constraints facing the district and last year's challenging budget process.
"It's outrageous," said Palma, who told Patch she intends to file Freedom of Information forms to determine the actual cost of the meal and the policy of the district regarding spenditures by the BOE on such events.
"I heard [from an administrator] it cost $2,600 for the meal. That's ridiculous given that we've cut programs and things for the students due to budget issues," she said during the meet-and-greet event.
Feustel was so irked by the dinner event that he and his wife went to Blue to determine that the event was being held and his wife took pictures of the event being held in the private dining area.
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"I think this is wrong and I wanted to come down here and find out if it was true," he said.
During the meet-and-greet a BOE member confirmed the final meal tab to Patch.
Trustee Bill Milligan, who was elected in May on a platform calling for deeper review of district spend and fiscal accountabiity, said he pre-paid for 10 of the meals, which was about one third of the final tab, upon arriving at the event and did so in a low-key manner.
"I came in and said hello and then talked with management staff to pay for the table I was sitting at. I did it pre-emptively," he said, explaining it was done before his knowlege of any Feustel's attendance at the restaurant. "I didn't say anyting as I did not want to make anyone else [at the dinner event] feel uncomfortable," he told Patch Tuesday morning.
When the Feustels arrived at Blue Board of Education President James March left the dinner event to talk with them in the bar area. He said that while the dinner event was not unanimously endorsed by all the trustees, as some believed such a expenditure may be viewed as sending the wrong message, he believed it was an appropriate event.
"I defend the decision to provide the opportunity for the new superintendent to meet with administrators and the board," he told Patch. "It was appropriate and I think necessary for everyone to meet him and have a chance to talk."
Oh, but wait, it gets better: a parent believed that the mailboxes in the middle school main office don't look good (they're wooden cubbies, fully functional, nothing unsightly) and brought that to a board member's attention and THOSE got ordered ASAP.
So what are you saying- as long as any single expenditure comprises only a small percentage of the budget, it's OK if it's a frivolous and self-indulgent waste of money? Is that it? Did it occur to you that many people who earn far LESS than many people at that dinner paid the bill?
?. Do you really think YOU set a great example to our incoming Sup. Secondly, are your gurus on the board still doing as they promised? Maybe you should focus your energy in a positive light. We are all for the children, but come on, stop the hostility. It sets such a bad VIBE in our towns.
You use extreme words to paint an exaggerated picture (hostile,stalking, forcing). This is a lame attempt to justify a weak point and an indefensible action. We SHOULD keep careful tabs on the money collected to educate our kids. That is correct and proper- especially these days. We should NEVER neglect to hold those charged with spending our money accountable. Concede this point, Vito. You are flat-out wrong and off-base- similar to the person who speaks for the Board. Let's pray his statements were not unanimously approved.
What word would you feel better describes such behavior? I happen to think that this fits the definition of stalking quite well. Was there some evidence that all those attending would deny this event happened? Was there really a need to enter a private room to document things? It all seems very childish and unnecessary to me. As for what constitutes "lame", I feel worrying about nickels and dimes and alienating people in the process does little to solve the million dollar issues that face this and most districts. Please don't mistake me for someone who feels all is well and that we have already solved all our problems, as that is not the case. We just disagree on how to go about effecting change. We have a new superintendent, and his initial impression of the district is this nonsense. Well played. I am sure the spirit of cooperation and understanding will benefit greatly from this little passion play.
Calling people who have freely given of their time and energy to fighting waste and corruption in our towns "oddballs"? Catching the board with it's pants down and it's forks raised qualifies as "whistle blowing" in my book. As an administrator, I'm sure Dr. Butera is more than acquainted with the passions that school board issues can inflame in any district. If Dr. Butera is uncomfortable with this, he can choose to work elsewhere. There are many fine, highly educated fish in the scholastic sea.
As for your other comments, they are really so much "kill the messenger." The Feustel's went there openly, no "cloak and dagger" was involved. This cannot be said of Mr. March and the other attendees, who held this "meeting" in what they believed was secret. Remember too, that someone who was unhappy about the dinner had to have tipped them off in the first place. We should thank the Feustel's and Rita Palma for having the guts to question this event instead of deriding them as "stalkers". Scorning people who are helping to keep those who have access to our money on the straight and narrow is the wrong reaction. When you serve the public, you must avoid even the hint of impropriety. Do I think the attendees realized the dinner was unethical, illegal? I think they should have. Board members should pay the balance out of their individual pockets and refrain from doing anything this stupid again.
I know why< Because Rita Palma and Noel Fusteal put a twisted spin on it. As if everything these people do is wrong. For all the hard work and time and talent I for one will Donate $20 to cover a dinner or 7. I am proud of the people who work, volunteer and live here..I dont feel the need to spy. In the past, the school pays and each BOE gets a bill for dinner and we would get a statement and pay it back. But heck what do I know? except my vlounteer job always cost me money! lol NOTHING wrong with that!
However, that being said, does everyone realize the job of the BOE and Supt.? It's to craft a fair school budget and get it passed. Is it for personal gain? No. It's for the exact reason we are all passionate...without a passed budget, our kids' education will take the direct hit. So, I write today to ask that we back off, welcome the new Supt., and acknowledge that we move past a $22 pp dinner welcoming the person responsible for our children's future. I am concerned, not about individual BOE members, but about this BOE, as a whole. All BOE members attend regular, mandatory trainings. So, why are we pinning this "mistake" on one person, and then watching a fractured, panicky, and maybe confused BOE reach into their pockets to cover the bill...or maybe it was their own tails? This is a terrible first impression for BBP to make on our new Supt. I hope this BOE can pull it together and be more united in their focus on what they are there to do...give us a budget we can vote yes on.