Staff Reports
Niagara Gazette
April 28, 2009 09:39 pm
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A referendum to consolidate the school board from seven members to five will be the topic of discussion when the Lewiston-Porter school board meets for a special session tonight.
It was one of two referendums approved by the board on April 21. The other resolution calls for the board to hold a special meeting and an advisory referendum vote whenever a contract between the district and an employee union or the superintendent results in an increase in cost greater than $100,000.
On Tuesday, board member Ed Lilly said the consolidation referendum was likely going to be removed from the May 19 ballot due to a legal finding by the district’s attorneys.
Lew-Port Superintendent Chris Roser did not return a call Tuesday afternoon.
Board president Robert Weller said Tuesday night April 21’s vote was pending a legal opinion. Now that the board has that information it will discuss the matter again tonight.
“We have to decide about the referendum,” he said, adding the board has to act quickly because absentee ballots for the May 19 vote are due to print shortly.
There’s not much to decide as far as Lilly is concerned.
“No one should deny the public’s right to vote,” he said.
Lilly brought the two referendum items to the board April 21 and said board consolidation is both a cost-saving and accountability measure.
“The smaller the decision-making body, the more responsive they will try to be,” he said.
The special meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m.
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