Dysfunction obvious at Albion Board of Education meetings

Editor:

As a concerned alumnus, I have been diligently watching all of the Albion Central School District’s Board of Education (BoE) meetings in their entireties since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And, I am disheartened to write that from my experience the Albion BoE is entirely dysfunctional. BoE members routinely talk over one another and over presenters, snide comments are made, and members are verbally “bullied” by other members. Don’t believe me? Just watch the tape for yourselves – ACSD YouTube Link.

Additionally, the BoE had a highly contentious relationship with former Superintendent Michael Bonnewell, which resulted in his early removal and the appointment of an interim replacement. Think about the costs associated with this – Mr. Bonnewell is still on the payroll.

Did you know that the District had $2.2 million of unused technology grant money that had been just sitting there until August 29, 2020? The Hub wrote an article about this in September 2019. Where were the Chromebooks last Spring when Medina and Lyndonville made them available to every student in grades 7-12? The pandemic requires our school leaders to act quickly in the best interest of the children they serve.

So, it has come as no surprise that on August 22, 2020, a now-unnamed BoE member called 911 to report three boys of color sitting on the entry wall to Hazard Parkway in the Village Albion. The Albion Police responded without incident, but these three young boys were undoubtedly racially profiled. To make matters worse, it has been alleged that the Board member referred to the three boys as “little punks” in their 911 call.

Let me be clear, the BoE member who profiled the three boys and who made the 911 call should resign from the BoE effective immediately. In our America, there should be no seat on the School Board for this member.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrew “Drew” Remley

Oakland, CA, formerly of Albion, NY