Liz Barrett Resigns From Kings Park Board of Education

Kings Park Board of Education Trustee Liz Barett has given her resignation to the school district after standing at the center of a community controversy for the past four months. 

In a Dec. 10 letter posted in Kings Park Central School District's website, Board of Education members said a district employee reached out to one of them on Dec. 5 alleging Barrett publicly discussed his employment status. 

The Kings Park Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday to discuss this allegation, according to the Dec. 10 letter. 

"At the conclusion of the meeting, Ms. Barrett indicated to the Board of Education that she was no longer willing to serve as a member of this board. Earlier this afternoon, Ms. Barrett submitted to the District Clerk a formal letter of resignation, effective immediately," reads the Board of Education's Dec. 10 letter. 

The Board of Education's letter also states allegations made by the district employee "had nothing to do with the prior complaint," referencing controversial allegations over the community fundraiser for Barrett that the board has grappled with since August. 

"It is my belief that instead of being able to remove me from the board of education through the ballot box certain members of the board have used exaggerated complaints about me to force my resignation. Upon reflection, I see no reason to put my family through another difficult and expensive process," Barrett said, in response to the board's Dec. 5 letter. 

Jim McGuire, of Kings Park, had asked the board to review section 6110 of the Code of Ethics for Board Members, which is related to receiving gifts, in August.

McGuire questioned whether there was a conflict over Barrett accepting monetary donations to cover her attorney fees after the board brought about a petition with the New York State Commissioner of Education in June 2012 that could have removed her from the board amidst allegations that she shared confidential school information with an undisclosed third party.

After months of struggling over how to handle the complaint, Kings Park board members decided at their Dec. 3 meeting to resolve ethical questions raised by a community fundraiser by sending Barrett a formal written letter containing any questions they have regarding the fundraiser.

Barrett would have be given opportunity to respond in writing by the Dec. 17 meeting, where her answers would be reviewed before further action is decided. 

Barrett has allegedly attempted to resign from Kings Park Board of Education twice before, according to Trustee Charles Leo at the Dec. 3 board meeting, but board members previously refuse to accept it. 

Marie Goldstein, president of Kings Park Board of Education, clarified to Patch that Barrett had spoken in passing about possibly resigning her position, but had not previously submitted a letter of resignation.

Barrett was first elected to board in 2010, and was unanimously voted to the position of vice president for the 2012-2013 school year. 

"We appreciate the work that she has provided to this community for the past three and a half years and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors," reads the board's letter.