Hamilton school board discusses recording meetings

Much of the first half of the Hamilton Township School Board meeting revolved around what the board hasn’t said and isn’t saying.

Community members and board candidates laid into the board over drops in high school rankings, increases in the budget and a decision by the board not to tape its executive sessions.

“We had a wonderful presentation to start the meeting,” said Dina Thornton, candidate for the board after the group broke for executive session.

“Unfortunately it took on a different turn because many people were unhappy with the school district and decisions they are making.”

The 4-to-3 vote against recording, which the sponsoring board member, Jeff Hewitson, said would make the board more open to the public. Other board members and a representative for law firm Capehart and Scatchard said it would be more trouble than it is worth.

The executive sessions take up a considerable portion of the length of most meetings. At last week’s meeting, the board’s executive session lasted more than two hours out of a five-hour meeting.

Board members discuss contract negotiations, personnel issues and legal matters at executive sessions, as well as confidential matters. Hewitson said he was concerned about the issues addressed at those sessions, and whether the public should hear them.

“I think it is very important. We talk about too many things in executive session that don’t belong there and should be in public,” Hewitson said. “We are talking about transparency. What is more transparent than taping executive session?”

Board president Patricia Del Giudice said the board needed to protect its interests in not recording meetings.

“Anything we can do to protect that [employees’] confidentiality, we should do that,” she said.

The attorney from Capehart and Scatchard, Kelly Addler also recommended against the board’s current practice of recording executive sessions for missing members.

“[Recording] changes the dynamic of what is going on; people might feel uncomfortable about speaking out,” Addler said. “Being able to speak openly among board members is extremely important.”

She said that the recording would create logistical issues for the district, because different portions of executive sessions might become public at different times, requiring repeated editing of any tapes.

The board also honored more than 20 teachers as part of its “Teacher of the Year” program, which added to a packed room expressing concerns over board practices.

Hamilton resident Frank Lugossy said he was “Alarmed and concerned at this downward trend,” in high school rankings in the district.

Board candidate Tony Celantano said the district had misplaced its priorities, which had moved away from being an open, responsible body.

“Nobody wants to talk about these things and that is the problem,” he said.