The Barnegat Board of Education recently voted to authorize a conflict counsel to represent one of the board members, who filed an ethics complaint before the State Ethics Commission against another board member.
The entire board voted in favor of the legal representation - including the man whom the complaint is against - Frank Caputo.
Minutes posted on the board's website, show details of the vote, taken Dec. 18, 2012. The motion read: "New Business Motion #5, to authorize conflict counsel to represent D.P. and/or others as petitioners filing Code of Ethics charges before the S.E.C. against F.C. arising out of issues as presented and discussed in closed session."
According to sources close to the issue, the counsel was hired to represent Board member Denise Pilovsky, who filed ethics charges against Caputo. Pilovsky declined to comment on the matter, citing confidentiality, and referred questions to the attorney, Adam Steuerman. Steuerman was not immediately available for comment. In board minutes from June, 2012, Steuerman's fee was quoted at $135 an hour.
Caputo did not immediately return a call for comment.
Superintendent Karen Wood did not immediately return a call for comment.
Local Board of Ed must be abolished. The majority of people on these Boards have zero educational credentials. They are ill-equipped to understand let alone make decisions that impact academics. The infighting and shenanigans on the Barnegat BOE are legendary. The administration of school districts needs to be centralized if we are ever to see meaningful cost controls. Educational costs have skyrocketed and much of that is due to the incompetence of amateurs. When NYC schools were placed under the direct control of the Mayor, costs were reduced and standardized test score went up. These asinine episodes of bickering kill morale and are a poor example for students.
Again why do we have to make attorneys richer , tax payers like myself pay more money, and take money out of the pockets of our children . WANTING POWER NEVER STOPS AND DOES NOTHING BUT HURT THE INNOCENT PEOPLE.
Do any of the board members have children or grandchildren in the school district? Yes the EDUCATED ones that were voted in by the community, the people that care. Not the UNEDUCATED ones! And lets waist the money for the "children" on attorney fees. $135/hour...do the math. Again put us in debt further. Its It shouldnt be a POWER and CONTROL issue! It should be about the children!! UNEDUCATED members should work together with the EDUCATED people! Maybe they can work together and learn something and get us out of debt so we can further educate the children.