Mineola Board Of Education Shares Statement, Superintendent's Suspension Extended

MINEOLA, NY — The Mineola Board of Education shared a message with the community on Saturday after voting to extend Superintendent Michael Nagler's current suspension by two weeks.

The Mineola Schools Superintendent was initially suspended with pay on Jan. 8 after an investigator said they found he violated the district's code of ethics and his employment contract.

On Jan. 22, Board members voted 5 to 0 to have his suspension extended until the next board meeting on Feb. 5. The Board also voted to have Deputy Superintendent Catherine Fishman continue to serve as acting superintendent. School Board President Cheryl Lampasona read the resolutions aloud at the meeting.

In the message to the Mineola School Community, the Board of Education shared the following:

"We are writing to provide an update on the status of district leadership following Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting. As trustees, we voted unanimously to extend the appointment of Catherine Fishman as acting superintendent until our next meeting on Feb. 5. While we understand the community’s desire to see this matter resolved, we must follow the required legal process as we determine next steps. This work takes time, and we appreciate your patience.

As we stated during last night’s meeting, our priorities are:

• To resolve the circumstances surrounding the superintendent.
• To make leadership decisions in a lawful, deliberate, and responsible manner.
• To maintain stability across the district.

We are proud that over the past two weeks, under Ms. Fishman’s leadership, district operations have continued to run smoothly. This is a testament to the collaboration of our entire administrative team and the ongoing dedication of our teaching and support staff. They continue to support our students with enthusiasm, compassion, and care, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment.

As we move ahead, our focus remains where it belongs– on our students, our schools, and the long-term health of our district. We pledge to continue leading with transparency and a commitment to working collaboratively with our school community."

Nagler was not in attendance at the Jan. 22 meeting, which was livestreamed. Nagler could not immediately be reached for comment.

At the school board meeting on Jan. 8, parents, students, and community members were in attendance, many of whom provided comments and questions. To explain the findings of the investigation that his law firm Whiteman, Osterman, and Hannah conducted, the Board invited Attorney Nathaniel Nichols to give a presentation. Nichols stated at the meeting that his firm found, in short, the following:

1) Nagler violated the district's ethics code.

2) The Board was not aware of actions taken by Nagler.

3) Nagler violated his employment contract.