WB school board member resigns amidst friction among trustees

By Carolyn James

A growing tension between trustees on the West Babylon School Board has led to the resignation of longtime trustee Carmine Galletta, who served as the board’s president last year. In a statement to the board at its July 8 meeting, Galletta said it has been extremely difficult for him over the past year, and that he has never experienced “such a clash of personalities, trustees with agendas and a sickening distrust and disrespect for administration.

         “I love this district and cannot sit there and see it destroyed,” he said following the meeting. “It was my time to go, and I wanted to leave under my own terms.”

         In 2007, the board underwent major changes with the election of three new board members, Joseph Romano, Wendy DeGaetano and Diane Klein. The three quickly formed a majority with sitting board member Ray Cody, who was selected to serve as president this year, along with Romano who was elected vice president of the board. Galletta said that the two are inexperienced, and that Cody, who suffered a stroke last year, has spent little time on the board.

“I have always taken the high road as a trustee, as well as in my life, and I would like to think that I represented our district professionally and respectfully,” said Galletta. “It’s my opinion that a few trustees are feeding on their own selfish egos, with no regard as to how they are being viewed by the public.”

Cody declined to comment on Galletta’s comments except to say that he believes they were made in anger, and were inappropriate. He added that it was time for the board to move on.

In May the friction became apparent to the public at a board meeting in which several parents and students spoke out complaining about the conduct of a boys’ varsity basketball coach. They told the board that the coach had used abusive language and intimidating practices against the athletes. At one point, Trustee Cody spoke out in support of the parents and students, and Galletta, concerned about Cody’s statements as a member of the board, asked that he go to the microphone and speak as a resident instead, which he did.

“I did not think that the students and parents were being treated fairly,” said Cody, who added that the board did not, in his opinion, take corrective action on the problem. Galletta says that is simply not true and that he and Trustee James Bocca looked into the charges and decided they were unfounded.

“There is no question that many members of this board have a lot to learn,” said Bocca. a board member for six years. “Carmine (Galletta) was one of the best trustees on the board, and a wonderful human being, and he will be missed.”

He added that he hopes that the board is more receptive to the advice of others with more experience as it moves forward. “They (board members) all mean well and sometimes personalities get in the way, but I will do whatever I can do to continue to work with the board on behalf of the public.”

Cody said he looks forward to a new era in West Babylon. “I think the board is going to be positive and that things will be bright for West Babylon.”

The board has 90 days within which to appoint someone to Galletta’s seat, but Cody said the board would be meeting this week and will likely make a selection before that deadline. One likely candidate is Kathleen Jennings who ran unsuccessfully for a seat in May.

“I would love to be considered,” said Jennings, who served on the board previously. “There certainly would be no learning curve for me if I am asked to serve.”

            

 

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