Letters to the Editor: Springs School 12.10.15

Hard to Fathom Why

Springs

December 6, 2015

Dear Editor,

Based on the Dec. 3 East Hampton Star article “A Wrongful Termination Lawsuit,” it is hard to fathom why a Springs School District clerk with an unblemished record who has served several district superintendents over the years with integrity, is knowledgeable with regard to her position, helpful, affable, and a concerned community member, would have work responsibilities suddenly removed from her plate and then be let go!

Treating dedicated personnel in such a manner goes against everything that we try to teach our children. The community deserves an explanation from the head of the administration and the school board, all of whom work for the taxpayers and on behalf of the students of Springs School.

Sincerely,

NANCY KARLEBACH

Litigious Irrationality

Springs

December 3, 2015

To the Editor,

Regarding the article “A Wrongful Termination Lawsuit” in your Dec. 3 issue, I question the choice to place such tabloid sensationalist fluff on the cover, opposite a dramatic account of a sinking family-owned fishing vessel. The East Hampton Star is a highly respected paper of record in the Town of East Hampton and should rise above the litigious irrationality that pervades our society today. 

I have worked at Springs School for 20 years, and I can say with confidence that our current superintendent is the most proficient, hard-working, fair, and competent educational leader that Springs has seen in that time. Jay Finello has been a model of professional and courteous behavior in his interactions with staff, resulting in a respectful work environment that has boosted the morale of kids and adults alike. To report on the term “hostile” being used to describe such a mild-mannered intellectual is such an egregious perversion of the truth that I was motivated to write my first-ever editorial letter to a newspaper.

To make matters worse, the article was constructed in a way that juxtaposed that atrocious fallacy with a reference to the school board’s omission of a resolution from a board meeting years ago, a minor oversight that has been used by a few disgruntled residents to halt the progress of a much-needed school expansion. What an outlandish stretch, to besmirch one upstanding steward of Springs School and then connect it to the entire executive board, as if your intelligent readers will take seriously such a fictitious conspiracy. 

In my 20 years no previous school board has been more responsible, detail-oriented, intelligent, and transparent while managing the taxpayers’ money. One need only compare the financial health of Springs School today, as indicated by its growing reserve funds, to the dire financial situations of some Up-Island districts, to see how deft and conservative they have been in preparing for future challenges.

Regarding the allegations in your article, isn’t it more likely that the high standards introduced to our school by the conscientious superintendent and school board have proven frustrating for some? Springs School is in capable, caring hands, and I hope that a future article will reflect the positive sentiments of the vast majority of Springs parents, students, teachers, and residents. Perhaps those marginalized few who resist constructive change can heed the advice that Ted Koppel gave at his Stanford commencement speech in 1998: “Aspire to decency. Practice civility toward one another. Admire and emulate ethical behavior wherever you find it. Apply a rigid standard of morality to your lives; and if, periodically, you fail, as you surely will — adjust your lives, not the standards.” 

Sincerely, 

ADAM OSTERWEIL

Our Go-To Person

  Springs

December 5, 2015 

Dear Editor,

We’re writing this letter in support of Fran Silipo. She exemplifies qualities that we all should strive for. She is compassionate in regards to her relationships with children and her desire to do all that she can for them. Her work ethic is unbelievable. She gets things done and always has gone above and beyond to get things done.

Our daughter was a student at Springs School from 2005 to 2010. During that time, we relied on Fran to coordinate meetings and testing for our daughter. She would always take it upon herself to let us know what and how things were to be done so that our daughter could benefit fully from her time at Springs School. It was so reassuring to us as parents to have someone who cared so much about her job and ultimately the students there.

We were so fortunate that Fran was our go-to person while our child was a student there. Springs School is definitely a better place with employees who care, as Fran Silipo always did.

Sincerely,

SCOTT and CINDY GRAY

On the Right Track

Springs

December 7, 2015

To the Editor:

Springs School is an extraordinary institution. My family lived in Springs for over 22 years, my three children have graduated from the school, and I have worked for the district for over 17 years. I have met many families as they enroll their children in Springs School. During this time there has been much change and even more growth. Springs has gone from a school of 400 students to a very crowded 750 students. The Springs high school population has increased as well. 

Residents and taxpayers of Springs should be confident in knowing that Springs School has never been in more capable hands than those of Mr. Jay Finello. The systems implemented by Mr. Finello in the administration and business offices have increased efficiency and productivity throughout the building.

I would like to commend the Springs School Board, Jay Finello, and the staff of Springs School for the outstanding job they have done to keep Springs School on the right track academically and financially during these challenging times. Of course, they may experience difficulties in their efforts to do the best job possible for the school, but this board and administration have worked tirelessly to bring Springs up to the high standards this community deserves.

It saddens me to think their hard work and dedication can be overshadowed by the misleading information in the article in last week’s Star, “Wrongful Termination Lawsuit.” I work within the small confines of the office and have never witnessed any hostile behavior. Mr. Finello has introduced a level of professionalism never before seen in the main office.

I continue to work in an environment of caring professionals who have always had the best interest of the children of Springs as their priority. Again, to the staff, administration, and board of Springs School, thank you, and I appreciate all your hard work to make Springs School an exceptional institution for the Springs community. 

SUZANNE JANIS

Defies Human Decency

Springs

December 7, 2015

Dear Editor:

The fact that Ms. Fran Silipo has been subjected to such heinous acts at the hands of Superintendent John Finello defies the parameters of human decency and professional conduct.

I am the former chairperson of the committee on special education of the Bridgehampton School, having served students with special needs there for 30 years. I had the privilege of a professional and collegial relationship with Ms. Silipo in her role as special education administrative assistant for 16 of those years, having attended committee meetings with her on numerous occasions regarding transfer and tuition-based students. In addition, as colleagues, we conferred on many aspects of special education that occur on a regular basis. I found her to be exemplary in her knowledge, dedication, and compassion. She always put the students’ needs first and foremost. Ms. Silipo has received similar praise from all former superintendents for whom she has worked.

The fact that Mr. Finello has been involved in two previous lawsuits of this nature in the Huntington School District speaks to his character. Moreover, attempting to hide the fact that the firm of BBS Architecture and Engineering was paid without a board of education resolution is a violation of school law. This leads to another question regarding Mr. Finello’s actions. If he knew the resolution did not exist, why did he repeatedly request that she “find” a document that did not exist? Ms. Silipo would have no part of this.

Mr. Finello receives a $215,000-a-year salary and is allegedly present in the district only three days a week, despite being hired for a full-time position. He also receives a $15,000-a-year annuity, and had his rent paid by Springs School taxpayers during the first year of his employment. Now, for the final insult, Mr. Finello is also receiving a pension of $207,721 from the New York State Retirement system, which approximates half a million dollars per year, thanks to you the taxpayers.

Juxtapose that with Ms. Silipo’s situation, whereby she suffered a stroke due to extreme emotional abuse and is on unpaid leave.

This leads to my final question. How was Mr. Finello vetted in the first place? I do not recall informal get-togethers or a committee of teachers, parents, and community members involved in his selection, as has routinely occurred in the past. The previous superintendent, Mr. Mucci, participated in this process most recently.

The board of education remains ultimately responsible for allowing Mr. Finello to operate in this manner. This is a one-building district with a “full-time” superintendent, a principal, an assistant principal, and a head of human services. It is time for Springs taxpayers to wake up and demand accountability, fiscal responsibility, honesty, and above all, dedication to the children and staff, who deserve much more than they are now receiving.

  Sincerely,

  PATRICIA SMITH

A Disservice 

Springs

December 6, 2105

Dear Editor,

I read the cover story about Springs School and the recent revelation about an impeding lawsuit involving an employee that has been ostracized and tormented because she refused to “find” a resolution that does not exist.

I am a retired employee of the district, a Springs taxpayer, and a constant school board meeting attendee. At the November meeting, the school board, finally, after six months of questioning by other community members, admitted that the original request for proposals that they created earlier in the year was ineffective, missing pertinent requirements, and would have cost the taxpayers of Springs a significant amount of taxpayer money, with no protection for the district. This after admitting in October that the resolution never existed, and that they had made a mistake, when they allowed BBS Associates to complete a study and do work in the district facility, without proper authorization, but with over $35,000 in compensation.

I find it appalling that the school board and the administration have wasted the last eight months hiding their improper actions and denying their treatment of an employee who not only graduated from the school, but had two children go through the school, and who has devoted 14 years to the students and taxpayers of the community with nothing less than stellar commendations from past superintendents.

I find it appalling that the administration has chosen a shady and disreputable path instead of admitting that a mistake was made. It is appalling that the school board and administration have chosen to spend, I’m sure, a significant amount of taxpayer money on legal fees to cover up their mistakes and their actions. This taxpayer money could have been spent on improving the overcrowded conditions in the school, or at least preparing a plan for the future of the school and the children.

In my opinion, it is very sad that the district is under the leadership of people  who do not have the interest of the children and taxpayers as their top priority. Never in my 32 years of attending school board meetings have I seen a superintendent who is so ill fitted, so contrary to the character and honesty of this Springs community. I feel I have never seen a school board and superintendent act in such a way as to mistreat this wonderful community and the children who should be the primary focus of the board of education. 

I believe the board of education and the superintendent have done a disservice to the children who live here. They should be creating an environment of trust and cooperation with the community, the taxpayers, and the faithful employees to bring forth a plan that would provide an excellent facility for the students. Instead they have shown that they have none of the character that is part of this Springs community. The community needs to become aware of what is happening to its school, to its taxpayer dollars, and to the children and people in the Springs community. The taxpayers, the children, the staff, and this community deserve better.

MARY JA’0NE ARCERI