School Board Pres: "Enough, Kings Park" Over Barrett Fundraiser Controversy

Kings Park Board of Education's latest efforts to resolve ethical questions raised by a community fundraiser for trustee Liz Barrett dissolved into a yelling contest in front of students and parents on Tuesday night. 

"Enough. This is had gone on far too long. Our students do not deserve this embarrassment," said Marie Goldstein, president of Kings Park Board of Education. 

Trustee Charles Leo read the board's statement in response to Kings Park resident Jim McGuire's request the community fundraiser for Barrett be reviewed in relation to the section 6110 of the Code of Ethics for Board Members related to receiving gifts: 
 
"Several weeks ago a member of the Kings Park community asked the Board of Education to address concerns regarding a community fund raiser that was held to cover legal fees for Board of Education Trustee Liz Barrett. Specifically, the community member asked if Board of Education Policy #6110 had been violated. That community member reminded the Board of Education at its November 19, 2013 meeting that an answer had not yet been provided.

Board members take this issue very seriously and have spent a significant amount of time discussing the situation and seeking advice from the district's legal counsel and the School Boards Association. The Board of Education held a retreat on November 25, 2013 and reviewed their options with regard to this issue. Four Board members agreed to a course of action and will provide an answer to the question posted by the community member at its regularly scheduled meeting on December 17, 2013." 
Goldstein said the board has agreed to send Barrett a formal written letter containing any questions they have regarding the fundraiser. Barrett would then be given opportunity to respond in writing and her answers would be reviewed before further action is decided. 
Other options laid before the board including handing the matter over to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota or hiring outside counsel to provide a legal opinion, according to Goldstein. 
However, Barrett suddenly asked on Tuesday night if the board would not agree immediately to open a Q-and-A session. 

"I don’t see why we can’t resolve it tonight rather than prolong it," Barrett said. "Being we are discussing it now, why not finish the conversation rather than prolong that for two weeks."

Her suggestion started a heated debate among the board members. A few
residents began standing up and calling out, despite stern warnings from Leo, to interject with their thoughts and opinions. 

"It's a joke," shouted one man from the audience. 

It's clear the ethical questions and controversies over the community fundraiser for Barrett and the Board of Education's investigation into the matter have divided the Kings Park community. 

Goldstein said board members, who she did not individually name, have received phone calls from community members warning them not to move forward with this action against Barrett in any way, shape or form.

Police reports have been filed for acts of vandalism though these acts were not clearly linked to the Barrett controversy, according to Goldstein.

"I've been on this board for 14 years and the adult behavior I have witnessed for the last few are unconscionable and it is wrong," she said. 

Leo made clear that contrary to some community members' beliefs, the board's efforts to move forward in investigating the fundraiser is not in an effort to force Barrett off the Board of Education. 

"Liz [Barrett] has offered to resign twice, and the board has not accepted it," Leo said. 

He then admitted to not spending time thinking about various questions over community fundraiser as he's "not looking to get Liz [Barrett] off the board." 

Leo said the repeatedly raised question of whether faculty members did attend the community fundraiser could be important. Kings Park Board of Education and school officials are still in negotiations to reach a contractual agreement with its teachers union.