http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130928/NEWS02/709289960
Published September 28, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Stephen Karaffa replaces Scott Adnams on School Board By Christian Avard Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The School Board has selected Stephen Karaffa to serve the remainder of chairman Scott Adnams’ term. Karaffa was selected this week from four candidates to replace Adnams, who is moving to New Braunfels, Texas, next week. The other candidates were Larry Kraft, Sam Coleman and Ed Caron. Karaffa has served as president of the Springfield Teachers Association and he teaches criminal justice at the River Valley Technical Center. He also served as the Chester police chief and as a New York police officer. Karaffa said he was pleased to be selected and he hopes to make a difference in the remaining months of Adnams’ term, which expires March 4. “I’ve worked on the other side over the years. Now I’ll be on opposite side,” Karaffa said after the special School Board meeting Tuesday. “I have a lot to offer. I look forward to working with the board.” Karaffa credited Adnams, the School Board and administrators for improving the quality of education in Springfield. He said he hopes his experience as a negotiator and teacher will make a difference on the board and continue the progress made in the school district. “I worked with the administration trying to make change,” he said. “I saw the way Scott was leading the board and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for more good things to come in the district.” Superintendent Zach McLaughlin it was a positive sign for the district that four candidates stepped forward. “Although every individual has their own motivations for deciding that they want to be a public servant, I think that people understand that there is growing momentum in the district,” McLaughlin said. “I choose to believe that people want to be a part of making our school system a source of pride for this community and that for the first time in a long time folks are beginning to believe that could actually be a possibility,” he said. Once Karaffa is installed on the board, the members will elect a new chairman Oct. 7.
Former president of the Springfield Teachers Association - with rubber stamp in hand. So much for adding an objective and impartial member to the board. Prepare for another tax hike.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the board members, the ones who remain as Adnams steps away, are all for anything the administrators want and ask for and more, so I would say Mr. Karaffa, being an intelligent and well informed man in education, will be a wonderful relief from rubber stamping...
DeleteIt's interesting they chose him over an accountant, and two former board members, who both were pretty effective in their positions. Coleman was someone I appreciated.
ReplyDeleteNothing like letting to Teachers Union Boss run the whole system!!
ReplyDeleteLook out for your taxes. This is nuts
Hopefully this one will have the good sense to scuttle Adnams' plans to use tens of thousands of taxpayer monies to enrich a sNJ slumlord and give Selectboard member Yesman a nice fat commission to boot.
ReplyDeleteCan our taxes actually increase...? I mean... We live in Springfield, VT... Please tell me they can't increase more...
ReplyDeleteIs it legal to hire a Union member? Won't he have to recuse himself from just about... everything?
What was wrong with the other three options, other than the DWI whoopsie...?
Wow....the Chester Chief who fell from grace, who just loves to remind everyone how he used to be a cop in NY somewhere over the rainbow. Who cares.
ReplyDeleteMr. Karaffa is a great teacher and a very good person. Slandering him is unfair and just ridiculous.
DeleteDo your homework, not gonna do it for you.
DeleteI thought that legally, because this is an elected position, that they had to run a special public vote? Rules of law on elected officials and this process anyone? Im sure a simple call to sec of state or voters div could answer this. I will try to call around just to check "rules of engagement" so to speak. Who were the other candidates?
ReplyDeleteSam Coleman, Ed Caron, and Larry Kraft... All fine candidates, and well respected members of this community.
DeleteIs this Legal--that is the question of the day.
Deleteand the QUESTION that does not appear to have been Answered.
The question of the day is "IS THIS LEGAL"!.
DeleteNo one seems to have an aswer for this! or no one is willing to find out!
Uhm, the Chairman of the Board is selected by a vote of the Board, not by the voters. If the Chair leaves, then the Board elects a replacement. Not sure why anyone would want to be Chair, they are not suppose to make motions, they aren't suppose to vote except to break a tie, and they normally get most of the abuse and spend about twice as much time on school board business as the rest.
ReplyDeleteFrom following the school board meetings for several years, it was explained that if a member resigns from the board prior to the end of their elected term, the board can appoint a member of the community to fill the position until the next election. At that time, any and all candidates will be presented to voters for a general election to fill seats available due to ending terms or resignations. A reorganization meeting will take place on October 7 and a new chair will be elected by the board after the appointed member is sworn in.
ReplyDelete