Let them eat cake

Has SAD 22 Superintendent Richard Lyons started a new school lunch program at taxpayer expense? He submitted a receipt for reimbursement from the Olive Garden resaurant for a “business” meeting. This raises many questions.

First, why does he consider this lunch a business meeting? Does lunch with Ann Hanlon, a school board member, consititute a “business” meeting? If this was a legitimate meeting, were other board members invited? How many board members must be present for a quorum? If this was a legal meeting, what was discussed that couldn’t be discussed on school property? Was the public invited to the Olive Garden for this meeting? Wasn’t there space at the school for the meeting like normal board meetings?

Aren’t school board meetings supposed to be open to the public, even committee meetings? Was this an executive session or some other format, that isn’t open to the public? Was proper notice given besides restaurant reservations? If someone just happen to see the two of them there, would Richard Lyons have had the taxpayers pick up their tab as well?

I would love to hear the responses to these questions made public. Aren’t the superintendent and the doctor paid well enough that the public doesn’t have to pick up their luinch bill? In this period of “austere budgets,” teachers are told there isn’t money for supplies and they must buy them themselves and the superintendent has threatened to cut art, music and sports from the budget, can we afford this new school lunch program? Is this the best use of our school tax dollars?

I think it is unethical and the superinendent should be held accountable. When will the school board say enough is enough? If you agree that this is wrong, please contact the school board members and voice your opinion. They are supposed to represent us. I’d love to see the minutes at the next school board meeting. Richard G. Peer Hampden