School Board Trustees Square off Over Public Letter

Mineola Board of Education trustees William Hornberger and John McGrath got into a heated debate over a letter to the public written from the latter over the proposed school reconfigurement Tuesday night at the Willis Avenue school.

Referring to the cluster model approved by the board at the August 12 meeting, McGrath called the reconfiguration plan "radical" several times in the letter.

Citing these descriptions, Hornberger questioned McGrath if he was comfortable with the reconfigurement adopted by the board. "I stand by my comments in the letter," McGrath, a Roslyn Heights resident, said. Three board members voted for the cluster bond - President Terrence Hale, vice-President Christine Napolitano and Hornberger - while McGrath and trustee Irene Parrino voted against the measure.

"I'm not necessarily saying I'm in favor of seven buildings, but I'm not submitting to an interrogation by you as to what I support and what I don't support," McGrath said.

"You stated misstatements," Hornberger said, referring to perceived inaccuracies in the letter.

"Your opinion is that they're misstatements, my opinion is they're not," McGrath said.

In his letter, McGrath also makes the assertion that the plan was approved "by board members with experience of two years or less and who, based on that level of experience, have had insufficient experience to understand the educational repercussions of their radical school district reconfiguration decision."

"So just when it's convenient for you does it matter that you have experience?" Hornberger asked, appearing to have taken the claim personally and getting into an exchange.

"Absolutely not," McGrath said.

"When does a board member get experience?" Hornberger questioned.

"That comes with time," McGrath said.

"Waiting for you to get yours," said Hornberger.

"I am kind of upset that you claim that because I only have two years of experience that I'm inadequate to make a rational decision," Hale said, citing a leadership award he received and 14 years spent as a community leader and a six-year career in the military. "In my opinion Mr. McGrath, you have failed to lead, and you will certainly not follow. I told you once before... that sometimes you've got to take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth."

Napolitano asked McGrath what his alternative solution would be.

"I'll think about it and I'll get back to you," McGrath said.