This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Trustee Sal Maglietta's Record

An elected official’s record details pertinent information which when examined becomes instrumental in determining whether or not a trustee has kept the public trust or deliberated in a manner commensurate with the position he holds.  

The dissemination of such records is not a personal attack nor should it be construed as such; rather, it is an undeniable statement of documented information.  With that in mind, the following is noted in the public record of current Briarcliff School Board President and candidate Sal Maglietta.                                 

NO  VOTES
 

April 11, 2011
voted NO on the tax savings budget which retained all educational programming, arts, athletics, and extra-curricular activities while giving the residents tax relief.    

Mr. Maglietta’s campaign literature (2010) stated:  “The current tax burden is no longer affordable.”  “The projected increase in taxes for 2010/2011, despite a School Budget reduction, is not acceptable.” “It is unacceptable that our per pupil costs are among the highest in the county.”  

November 28, 2011
voted NO  on the establishment of the community lead  ad-hoc facilities committee which thoroughly scrutinized and prioritized the short and long term school district facility needs, technology and energy advancements, science and music room renovations, field improvements, security issues, and Todd classroom renovations.  The findings of this committee constituted the basis for the development and ultimate passage of the 2012 bond referendum.  

February 27, 2012
voted NO on the RFP for a search for the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction while advocating publicly for an inexperienced inside hire.  

February 27, 2012
voted NO on adoption of the teaching assistant model even after the aides’ positions were eliminated, in effect giving support to the loss of all classroom assistance.  

March 19, 2012
–  voted to adopt the budget on April 16, 2012  

March 19, 2013
- publicly denied his vote to adopt the April 16, 2012 budget    

 April 23, 2013- voted to adopt a tax cap busting budget that included a school budget reduction while increasing taxes 9.2 % in the town of Mt. Pleasant and 4.7% in the town of Ossining.  

Maglietta’s campaign literature reminder: “The projected increase in taxes ……, despite a School Budget reduction, is not acceptable.”  

The most extraordinary record of all - never before attained by any school board trustee in the history of the Briarcliff Manor School District:  

After examining the details of a second degree harassment charge filed against Maglietta by the Westchester County District Attorney’s office, the Village Justice of Briarcliff Manor, Fred Weinstein and the Village Justice of Lewisboro, Marc Seedorf, granted fellow trustee, Rosella Ranno, two orders of protection and an extension thereof
.  

On May 21, 2013 the residents of Briarcliff School District will be voting for the budget and for two school board trustees.  Has Trustee Maglietta kept the public trust?  Has he fulfilled his campaign promises?  Has he acted in a dignified, refined, respectful and professional manner deserving of the office of school trustee?  The answer to these questions is a resounding NO.  

Mr. Maglietta has been a lightning rod for controversy.  His campaign literature is rife with empty promises. His conduct unbecoming, to say the least, has proven to be embarrassing for the totality of the Briarcliff school community.  What is emphatically clear is that character matters above all and when it is lacking in a school leadership position, the entire community suffers.  People who present opposing or divergent opinions at board meetings are met with condescension, ridicule, and outright threats and lest I forget, a microphone that gets cut off abruptly while the speaker is in mid-sentence. His collaborative style of respect and inclusion are empty words.  Transparency is only a buzz word, a mantra, with absolutely no substantiation in practice.  

The district passed a harassment policy while, ironically, the biggest school yard bully continues to sit on the dais.  Maglietta’s minions write the most venomous vitriol defending the indefensible and then they have the audacity to preach to the entire community about civility and respect.  

Additionally, ridiculous as it might sound, Magliettta did discuss selling Todd School at two public forums for the purpose of raising revenue.  Do the honorable community members who discussed this with him need to sign a sworn affidavit and get it notarized before he will publicly acknowledge the truth?  

Haven’t we all had enough of this?   Where is the school community that used to actually know how to be a community? What happened to the notion that the school board’s fiduciary oversight actually includes taking all taxpayers into consideration while striving for the highest level of educational excellence for every student?  

The role of a trustee is an honorable role steeped in trust, dedication to education and to community. It should not be used as an instrument to divide. Paramount should be working collegially towards a common goal for the greater good, for the highest level of education possible, for a fiscally sustainable budget that allows all taxpayers to remain in the community that they love and helped to build.  

Has Trustee Maglietta kept the public trust and conducted himself in a manner that is commensurate with the position? NO  

Paul Wasserman, an experienced financial analyst, and Louis (Sonny) Linder have determined that our district has “once again over-budgeted and has enough resources to develop a tax levy cap compliant budget” which would control tax increases and allocate funds appropriately. Both men are long-time Briarcliff residents and volunteers who will promote fiscal integrity, accountability, and transparency as trustees.  

My NO VOTE will be for Trustee Maglietta I will also vote NO for the budget. Under the new tax cap law, if the budget vote fails, the board will have a second chance to adopt a tax cap compliant budget without reverting to a contingency budget. There is more work to be done.  

I will vote for Linder & Wasserman for Briarcliff School Board and I encourage all to do the same for the betterment of the Briarcliff School District, for all the students, for all the taxpayers and for the community at large.  

Kurt Ranno

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manor