Parents voice concerns about the Elmont elementary and Sewanhaka board trustees

Reorganization meetings of the Elmont Union Free School District and Sewanhaka Central High School District boards of education are approaching, and parents are voicing their criticisms of some trustees and the boards’ lack of transparency throughout this school year.

The public reorganization meeting for the Elmont elementary school board is set for July 10, at 8 p.m., at the administration building on Elmont Road.

Newly elected Elmont Trustees Tiffany Capers and Angel Ramos will be sworn in on July 11. The Elmont elementary board of trustees will then select two members to serve as its “voice” on the Sewanhaka high school board.

The boards will also elect two trustees to serve as president and vice president. Those seats are currently held by President Michael Jaime and Vice President Tameka Battle-Burkett.

At the elementary board’s June 6 meeting, many Elmont Memorial High School parents and community members expressed their mistrust in Jaime and Battle-Burkett, and urged them to resign.

“The general feeling is that we do not want Dr. Battle-Burkett or Mr. Jaime representing us in any kind of leadership position,” said Sheldon Miekle, an Elmont parent and former school board trustee. “They are not the voice of our community.”

With Elmont High Principal Kevin Dougherty leaving and both Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane and Elmont elementary Superintendent Kenneth Rosner retiring this summer, many members of the Elmont school community said they are fed up with feeling ignored by board trustees.

There have been a few instances where the board has caused the community to reach its boiling point — with the most significant move being Dougherty’s unexplained leave of absence right before the start of the 2022-23 school year, in what administration officials described as a “sabbatical.”

The move sparked protests among parents and students, who demanded answers about his sudden removal. Dougherty was reinstated to his position on Oct. 11.

In March, Jaime was under fire for reportedly using a school bus to take himself, a Roosevelt school district student and the mother of Anael Alston — the assistant commissioner for the state’s Office of Access, Equity and Community Engagement — to the Javits Center last November. The Obama Foundation held its first-ever Democracy Forum there, and Alston was scheduled as a guest speaker.

Alston oversees and manages the state’s My Brother’s Keeper program, which the Elmont school district implemented in 2021.

The forum is a unique opportunity for anyone given a chance to attend — but some parents were angered by the fact school district resources were used when Elmont and Sewanhaka students were denied the experience.

Additionally, the Elmont community found out through a Newsday story about a $400,000 payout to Dougherty after he resigns this month — a plan that was agreed to in September. According to the report, the community was not made aware of this decision.

This information was not discussed in any school board meetings or made part of a budget presentation.

Shamika Jackson, a 16-year Elmont resident and parent, called the lack of transparency from the school board “disturbing.” Another speaker, Utricia Charles, president of the Argo Civic Association, said before she heard about what was happening with Dougherty, she did not pay attention to school board matters.

When she found out Dougherty was leaving, she decided it was time to get involved. She shared a personal story of how “Doc” helped her child when he was in some trouble — so she was disheartened to hear Elmont was losing the beloved principal.

“When there was that election, I went out to tell people and campaigned, I walked door to door, I walked my dog and I told people about the importance of voting in these elections,” Charles said. “We are a wonderful school district, but there needs to be a change at the top.”

With these circumstances in mind, Lynette Battle, the Elmont Memorial High School PTSA president, said it is time for the president and vice president of the school board to consider “passing the baton.”

Aubrey Phillips, president of the Parkhurst Civic Association, said there was a 50 percent increase in voter turnout at this year’s school elections in May.

“Democracy is at work now,” Phillips said. “I believe it’s in the board’s best interest to empower the people who elected you.”

Both Battle and Phillips mentioned trustees Sharon Earley Davis and Nancy Garlick are up for reelection in May 2024.

Community members at the board meeting made it clear they are keeping tabs on how the two trustees vote and their positions on issues going forward.

“This year has been a rough year for everyone involved — there’s a level of expectation and it was missed this year,” said Battle. “If you are not up for the task, please remove yourself — train up the next individual and show them how to lead, that’s a great leader.”