Parents Gather to Hear About Possible Flawed Hiring Process (with poll)

Nearly two dozen parents of elementary school students attended a forum at High Plains Community Center Monday night to learn how the new Orange School Superintendent was chosen.

The forum was hosted by Michael Richetelli and attorney Michael Bowler, who offered their viewpoint as members of the community search committee appointed by the Board of Education to interview candidates and offer their opinions as to which candidate would best fill the position to replace retiring Supt. Tim James.

Both Richetelli and Bowler made it clear that, although they feel the selection process was flawed, they and the public, should not have any ill feelings against the new superintendent, Lynn McMullin, because "It is not her fault."

Patch did not receive a call from BOE Chairperson Jeanne Consiglio Hoin, so we are providing the link to the story written by Bettina Thiel of the Amity Observer, which covers everything we both heard in the meeting, along with an interview with Consiglio.

Editor's Note: Patch live-streamed the meeting via video feed on the internet, but the sound was faint and hard for most to understand. We do, though, have a separate audio tape available.

Richetelli provided hand-outs of the letter he sent to the Board of Education, along with the response, and the board policy for hiring a superintendent, all of which we have attached here.