Board's Minority Faction Failing on Promise to "Work Together"

After promising just a few weeks ago to "work together", some now-opposition members of the Hillside Board of Education are beginning to act like "obstructionists".

In a recent edition of the Hillside Gazette-Leader, board member Nagy Sileem criticizes "fellow board members" and Nathalie Yafet "especially". The reason stems from an issue involving the contract renewal of certain district vice-principals. Apparently, several of these administrators were not properly notified before the vote - a simple, error of protocol, attorneys said.

But some board members, who just last year held the majority on the board, attempted to turn the oversight into a major scandal in order to embarrass the new school board members.

Yafet pointed out that Sileem voted for the motions just like everyone else did.

"He has no reason to criticize. He was just as much a part of the vote as I was. Instead of politicking, he should focus on becoming a good board member," Yafet told the DISPATCH.

Sileem is currently serving his second term on the board.


TOO BUSY FOR COMMITTEES

Last year a polemic erupted when Yafet complained she was not put on enough committees by then-board president Dennis Kobitz.

This year, Kobitz's allies are complaining that they have too many committees!

It seems that several board members do not want to do any work on the Board of Education, the DISPATCH has learned.

"Why did they bother to run for the board if they're not going to contribute?" asked member Sergio Bichao, who chairs the Coordinate Activities committee and vice-chairs the Education committee. "They are defaulting on the faith voters put into them as candidates and board members."

Already, member Elbert Smith has "resigned" from the Education committee he was appointed to as chair by President Sip Whitaker. Last year, Smith served on four committees.