Subject: Petition for Tuxedo UFSD Changes

This petition is to express your voices as parents, community members, and stakeholders of the Tuxedo Union Free School District.

Since the new administration and superintendent has come on board there have been a lot of changes to our school, and, while we are stuck home in quarantine unable to have “true” public BoE meeting participation, the changes keep coming.

On June 18, 2020 BoE meeting recording, one of the agenda items was regarding the change to the contract for Mr. Bohlke, currently the Superintendent/Principal, and the request to “split” the position of Superintendent/Principal. He told the BoE that he consulted his lawyers regarding his contract, and [he] has recommended to “strike-out” the parts of the contract that will then just make Mr. Bohlke Superintendent, rather than to amend or rewrite the contract and terms of his contract.

I say “No!”

While I concede that having a Superintendent/Principal roll from the beginning was not the best course of action, it’s intent was to save money; however, we have changed, and added more administration than ever.

Good teachers and faculty are leaving our school in surprising numbers for such a small school. Teachers that have been there for years, teachers that are tenured.

He wants to add yet another administration position by hiring a High School Principal. We are a small school we DO NOT need a Principal for both schools when we also have Ms. Scariano as an Assistant Principal/Director of Student Services.

We need a K-12 Principal and a New Superintendent.

If he wants the position to be changed then the Board of Education not only needs to review and rewrite the existing contract and it’s terms for the position, but also to decide whether he would remain as Principal OR Superintendent.

Additionally, it is important that all of the Board if Education that will be serving in the upcoming term be allowed to Vote, and that includes, Joe Rickard. No exiting member of the board should have the right to vote on this matter, nor should incoming board members be excluded from voicing their vote, as has been done in the past. As a new member coming into the board Joe Rickard has the right to have his voice and vote heard on this very important matter.