Lewiston-Porter School Superintendent R. Christopher Roser told the School Board on Monday night that a former board member's phone call into a local radio talk show on Sunday morning has affected ongoing contract negotiations with the district's teachers union.
Edward M. Lilly, who lost a re-election bid in May, called WBEN-930 AM during its "Hardline" show and spoke with Gov. David A. Paterson, who was a guest.
Listen to the audio from the show here (Lilly's call is taken at about the 32:35 mark).
Lilly made allegations against the district and the union, claiming the union had a "slush fund," inferring the union could spend the money as it wanted. Roser said the account is a health insurance reserve account controlled by the union, and it is a "misnomer" to call it a slush fund.
Rather, Roser said, "it's the money that's left over from prudent management of money."
The superintendent also described the phone call as "a setback" and "a disappointment."
--Aaron Besecker
tagged
Education | government | Lew-Port
