Squabble resolved, GOP to control school board

DANBURY — Republicans will remain in control of the Danbury school board in 2019 after a brief, partisan spat to end the year.

Pat Johnston will remain the board’s chairman and Rachel Chaleski, who was elected last year, will become the board’s vice chairwoman.

The uncharacteristic 6-5 decision split the board along party lines at the group’s annual dinner Wednesday night, with the five Democratic members voting no in protest.

The board rarely takes split partisan votes — this was the only such vote this year

— but it is the second consecutive year the board found itself grumbling about partisan politics after a bitter fight over an appointment to a vacant seat last year gave Republicans their slim majority.

To ease the tensions, the board agreed unanimously to appoint long-time Democratic member Gladys Cooper as board secretary.

“This really isn’t a partisan board. It doesn’t work that way,” Johnston said. “The only time it happens is during this chair vote and around elections.

“We wanted to make sure there was representation on both sides and after a few conversations we thought this would be a good way to smooth it over,” he continued. “Who better to have than Gladys who knows every Roberts rule of order.”

Frustration about the leadership vote became a shouting match late last month when Johnston suggested rescheduling the board’s annual meeting from Dec. 5 to Wednesday.

“This really isn’t a partisan board. It doesn’t work that way.” Pat Johnston, Danbury school board chairman

Democrat Fred Karrat protested, arguing the move was a last-minute decision discussed off the agenda, and insinuated political motives.

Republican Emanuela Palmares — who was appointed by Mayor Mark Boughton to fill the vacant seat that led to last year’s board fight — makes an annual mission trip to Brazil to teach children to read. She was away on that trip last week and would have missed the Dec. 5 meeting, meaning Republicans would not have had a majority of votes to appoint Republican leadership.

Tensions rose near the end of the board meeting as Karrat and Johnston raised their voices.

“I was never asked about Dec. 12, but that’s fine,” Karrat said during the most heated moment. “We were meeting as a group in a workshop where you decide to discuss the annual meeting, which was not on the agenda at the workshop and it was inappropriate to be discussed at that time.”

“The meeting was over and I will not be reprimanded by you,” Johnston fired back.

In the days after the argument, both men said they regretted the discussion devolved, noting politics rarely comes up in their discussions.

The vote Wednesday, despite its result, was far more mild-mannered and without any arguing or hint at the previous bickering.

Board members agreed they have moved on to more pressing issues, such as budget talks, on which they agree the city and state need to step in with more funding next year.