The Levittown Board of Education held an organizational meeting last week to install the three board members elected into office in May and also to select new officers of the school board. Incumbents Diane Shapiro and Kenneth Auer Sr., along with John Garvey, were sworn into office. The board chose Paul Granger to be its new president, Diane Shapiro as vice president, James Moran as secretary and Marie Hughes to continue in her position as district clerk/treasurer.

At the meeting, held in a less crowded board room than it has been in recent months at school board meetings, some residents continued to address concerns regarding the still unsettled teacher contracts. In addition, residents spoke to the board regarding Dr. Gary Schorr, Abbey Lane principal who recently resigned from his position, and presented the board with a petition signed by 428 residents asking that Dr. Schorr be reinstated to his position at the school. One resident also brought up the events of the last few board meetings and noted that he was hopeful that the behavior exhibited by both board members and residents would cease.

LaMarca, a parent of two children attending Abbey Lane, told the board that he and the over 400 residents who signed the petition presented to the board urge them to reinstate Dr. Schorr as principal at that school.

"Tonight I represent these 428 taxpayers, as well as, more importantly, our children," he said. "It is our unanimous and united belief that you have forced Dr. Schorr's resignation without due cause or reason. Such request for resignation was unjust and unwarranted."

LaMarca added that a copy of the letter he read was sent to Commissioner Mills and that the residents who signed requested his intervention in the matter. (A copy of the letter Mr. LaMarca read at the meeting can be found in this issue on page 14).

"As a community we anxiously await your response to our questions, our letters, our petition, our issues with you the board with regard to your hasty decision regarding Dr. Schorr," LaMarca said, adding that the letter is being sent to the commissioner "to ensure that he understands that we will not accept your decision regarding Dr. Schorr due to the fact that it's completely unfounded and without cause and hereby request his intervention."

Board President Paul Granger noted that because the resignation of Dr. Schorr is a personnel matter the board, legally, cannot speak much of the issue. Dr. Sirois agreed, but offered some input.

"I understand and appreciate the feelings that a lot of parents have regarding Dr. Schorr," Dr. Sirois said. "There are a lot of fine qualities in that gentleman and we all know that. It's very difficult for us to comment on a personnel matter such as the resignation of Dr. Schorr or any principal. I don't believe it's accurate that the decision was completely unfounded. I can assure you that full due process was followed, that proper supervisory conferences were held and that any decisions that were made - the ultimate decision was placed in the hands of Dr. Schorr. We have a lot of respect for Dr. Schorr and we are doing our best to work with him."

Dr. Sirois added that the board's decision was not hasty and welcomed the commissioner's review.

"If the commissioner would like to review the case, we certainly hope he would. We believe we acted properly, we believe we acted in the best interest of the children and there's not a lot more we can say about it but certainly we'd welcome the commissioner's review. Maybe if he does review it, maybe that will help put the whole issue to rest."

With regard to the events of the last several board meetings, resident Andrew Booth said he hopes the board and residents alike have learned a valuable lesson.

"What I've seen the last few months disturbed me as a taxpayer," he said. "I want to first acknowledge Dr. Sirois; it took a big person to apologize at the last board meeting, which you did. I just hope that we all learned something the last two months and it stops and we get on as a group. For the new members, welcome aboard, I hope we can have a better unity."

Granger stated that there were times at the past couple of meetings that tensions did rise, both in the audience and the board.

"Some of what transpired was unfortunate on both ends. I can assure you that we want to keep harmony in the community and we want to keep our behavior as professional as possible," Granger said.

Board Trustee Michael Moriarity added that having been in law enforcement for 28 years and dealing with the public daily has always made him abide by one rule.

"You treat me like a gentleman, I treat you like a gentleman or a lady," he said. "The minute that stops and I get attacked don't expect me to just sit here. I make no apologies for the way I acted at the last meeting."

Superintendent Dr. Herman Sirois said that sometimes in the midst of negotiations, emotions can run high.

"I'd like to thank Mr. Booth, I think he probably put everything in perspective. The board has been negotiating now for over a year and we've been negotiating on behalf of the community, the taxpayers of the district," he said. "For most of the year, certainly we maintain our composure in the face of numerous insults and comments during the Public Be Heard. Unfortunately, toward the end, we lost our composure."

In regard to the teacher contract issue, of which only one resident spoke, the board said that there is every reason to be optimistic. One resident who spoke during the Public Be Heard told the board that she hopes they continue to negotiate the way they have been.

"I don't normally agree with the school board but I admire your negotiations and not giving in to demands," she said. "It's very important that we come up with a contract that's fair not only to the teachers but to all the residents in Levittown and to our children. Please continue your negotiations the way you have, please do not back down. I know I am in the minority in speaking to you - there are a lot of other people out there that do agree with me and are afraid to come out but please continue the way you have."

Dr. Sirois said there is reason to be optimistic.

"The good news - I think it's safe to say that many of the hurdles, the initial stumbling blocks that we've had with the teacher's union, particularly the attendance clause, we seem to have gotten past that," he said. "We do hope that negotiations will move along. That doesn't mean they'll be done in one week or two weeks, but they are moving along and I'm confident that we'll [soon] see the light at the end of the tunnel."