Questions legal fees
At the last meeting of the South
Country School Board, Leslie
O’Connor pointed out the correlation
between students involved in the
district’s music program and students
academically successful. Noting that
the music program has been hard
hit by the district’s fiscal problems,
she asked the board, on educational
grounds, to consider shifting some of
its funding to reinstate the program.
One source of funding that the
district might review is that spent
on legal fees. The district spent over
$1,000,000 for legal fees — far more
than other similarly sized districts.
If other districts can solve their
legal problems without incurring
such outrageous legal expenses,
we should revamp our procedures.
Some of the costs, like that paid
for legal insurance and retainers,
are in line with other districts. The
difference seems to be that we have
paid more than $600,000 in excessive
hourly fees to attorneys for needless,
lengthy litigation with great cost and
little benefit to the district. Now
is the time for the board to review
and overhaul the manner in which
the South Country School District
addresses its legal matters.
Regina Seltzer
Bellport

 

Wants position eliminated
I am the attorney who won the court decision that the
position of Business Services Administrator that Greg
Miglino created for himself, was null and void. The school
board was persuaded not to appeal the court’s decision on
the matter. This saved taxpayers a bundle.
Now, there’s a new wrinkle. Miglino wants to appeal the
court decision and wants the school district to pay for it
(with taxpayer money, of course). I think the appeal can be
avoided merely by the school board’s voting to eliminate the
position Miglino created.
No position — nothing to appeal. Simple as that.
But when it comes to saving taxpayers’ money, nothing
ever seems to be simple. The school board doesn’t want to
eliminate the position and may even be willing to pay for
Miglino’s appeal. Are they kidding? It’s our money!
Let’s end this sad affair once and for all. Call, write or
email the school board members and tell them three little
words:
“ELIMINATE THE POSITION.”
That’s it. If they listen, there’s a good chance we’ll have
this expensive matter finally behind us and South Country
can start focusing on quality education for our children. If
they don’t listen, we’re in for tens of thousands of dollars
more in legal costs.
Don’t put it off. The school board will be voting on
this matter very soon. Three simple words: Eliminate the
position. Simple as that.

Regina Seltzer
Bellport