Will the VVS School District be investigated by the State Department of Education?
Story Created:
Jun 5, 2009 at 3:56 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM EST
VERONA, N.Y. (WKTV) - It's been more than a week since the Oneida County Ways & Means Committee put the stop to the Oneida County Partnership plan, and now there's word that a State Supreme Court Judge has found the VVS School District in violation of state law for something it did during the month long battle.
State Supreme Court Judge Bernadette Romano ruled the District did break the law when it sent out an open letter stating its opposition to the Oneida County Partnership Plan. Judge Romano ruled it is not legal for school districts to use taxpayer dollars to voice the district's opinions.
The suit was filed by a VVS School District resident who also works for the Oneida Indian Nation.
The Oneida Indian Nation released the following statement : "The school district is supposed to spend its time and money educating children and protecting them from bias, racism and illegal conduct.
The court's finding that VVS is "defiant" and in "blatant violation of existing law," and that it used money meant to educate children to instead "convey favoritism, partisanship and partiality," raises serious concerns about the competency and willingness of this school district to educate children in accordance with the law.
The State Commissioner of Education needs to investigate the VVS school district and install impartial oversight until the District demonstrates that it is willing and able to comply with the established law."
We contacted the State Department of Education in Albany and a spokesperson tells WKTV, he is unaware of any request to the State DOE by the Oneida Indian Nation to investigate the VVS School District.
We tried to get a statement from VVS Schools Superintendent Norman Reed, but we were told he was unavailable, but if someone did inquire, his secretary told us the response was "the District has no comment."
Under Judge Romano's ruling, the District is not sanctioned, but she did order a permanent injunction barring the District from sending out similar letters in the future, since she said there is a likelihood that similar agreements with the Oneida Indian Nation and Oneida County may come up in the future.
