Suspended Suffern Central Schools Superintendent Douglas Adams is accusing the Board of Education and its president of going behind his back to make inappropriate decisions and taking deliberate actions to subvert his role in running the district.
In a petition filed March 6 to the state education commissioner, Adams states that board President Amany Messieha Dgheim’s actions leading up to his suspension not only violated state education law but stifled his duties as superintendent.
A day later, he filed a second petition against the board itself, stating their authorization of Dgheim's actions implicates them as well.
Illegally restricted Adams' participation in two board meetings; one where she limited his ability to speak; and another by holding a meeting when board members knew he'd be out of town.
Hired a professional service provider without Adams participation or consideration.
Signed a cross-contract agreement with BOCES without his authorization.
Modified the board agenda, without consulting Adams.
Adams' claims against the school board mirror his allegations against Dgheim in terms of restricting his participation at a pair of meetings and entering into agreements without his consent.
The petitions were filed the day the board voted 4-3 to suspend Adams with pay from his $287,764-a-year-job on a handful of disciplinary charges that are believed to be related to his response to “wrongful conduct” by a school district employee toward a student.
Adams’ lawyer Richard Ellsworth said in an interview on Friday morning that tensions had been building up between Adams and the board that culminated Feb. 5 when he says they first violated education law by restricting Adams' participation in agenda items.
Adams contacted Ellsworth shortly after to file the complaints with state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.
Ellsworth said he was confident Elia would act to remove Dgheim from the board. Adams was out of town during Friday's interview.
Both Dgheim and the board responded to the petitions on March 15.
Dgheim said Adams “created delays” in securing needed services, had been able to speak at meetings and that “inconsistencies” in board policies made it unclear that Adams needed to be present at every board meeting.
She also says the district never received services from BOCES because the provider “withdrew his application after the public character assassination” by a staff member under Adams’ supervision.
March 25, 2019, 9:43 a.m.