VOORHEESVILLE — The new president of the Voorheesville School Board, David Gibson, said, "The goal is: We want to be careful to put our time on things that matter"helping children learn."
He went on, near the close of Monday’s meeting, the first he presided over as president, telling his fellow board members, "We will make sure we take care of the resources with which taxpayers trust us"We want to make sure we pay attention to what’s important," Gibson said, again referring to children, "not just what’s urgent."

In January, the state’s comptroller, after his office had conducted an audit, announced that two now-retired Voorheesville school administrators had used school funds inappropriately. The school board members had agreed their president at the time, Joseph Pofit, would speak for them in the wake of the comptroller’s accusations.

Pofit, who received widespread criticism for the way the board handled the matter, was defeated soundly at the polls in his May re-election bid. His opponent, newcomer Gary Hubert, was sworn into office at the start of Monday’s reorganizational meeting.

Pofit opened Monday’s session, leaving right after the new president and vice president, C. James Coffin, were elected.

Superintendent Linda Langevin presented Pofit with a plaque and thanked him for his eight years of service on the board. Pofit left as the board applauded.
"Take care," were his last words.

Both Gibson and Coffin were elected to their leadership posts unanimously, without opposition. Gibson said later he had not sought the post and implied no one else would take it.

Coffin, a long-time school-board member, was last re-elected in 2004 for a five-year term. Coffin worked for the State Education Department in the Division of Educational Finance and Management Services for 32 years, retiring in 1999. Coffin was traveling and unable to attend Monday’s meeting, Gibson said.

Gibson made his first run for school board in 2004 and then was elected in his next run, in 2005. Gibson is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc.

While Gibson appeared eager to make a fresh start, old questions remained. Resident Bob Denman asked from the gallery about the status of the comptroller’s investigation.

Superintendnet Langevin responded that staff from the comptroller’s office had been in as recently as last week to look at documents.
"We have not received a formal draft report," said Langevin. "It could happen either fairly soon or as late as October."
Asked if the Albany County District Attorney’s Office is going to pursue indictments, Gibson said, "They have made no indictments. This should be coming out soon."

Langevin told The Enterprise Wednesday that board members had not seen a letter from the district attorney’s office to the school’s lawyer, stating there would be no indictments, until after the public meeting, in executive session. (See related story.)

Denman then asked about the school district’s liability.
"People always have the option of suing," said Gibson, indicating that winning a suit was another matter.
He went on, "We’ve been trying to be careful to make sure we limit the liability of the school.
Gibson concluded, "We are obligated and will report to the community."

Concerns

As the board made its annual appointments in the reorganizational meeting, concerns raised after the comptroller’s audit surfaced.
For example, board member Richard Brackett, when it came to appointing a treasurer, asked about being "overstaffed."
Gibson said that law required a treasurer but the person in that post can take on other duties as well. Gibson said the board could look at streamlining but not "on the fly."
"As long as we re-address that office," said Brackett. "We paid a lot of people a lot of money," he said, referring to consultant’s advice that hasn’t been followed.
Brackett also questioned the bank designation. "We were supposed to look at banks and put it off because of everything else going on," he said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Sarita Winchell said she has not yet put out requests for proposals.
"We pay no fees whatsoever to Key Bank," she said, adding that a nearby bank was needed for daily school-lunch deposits.

Gibson pointed out that two banks have branches in town.
Winchell said on investments, the district gets quotes and the rule she follows is, "Safety first, then liquidity, then yield."

Gibson told The Enterprise after the meeting he was "not here for a single issue."
He said he thinks discourse with the public is worthwhile. "We can disagree and that’s okay," he said. He also said disagreement among school board members is not unhealthy. "We don’t have to vote unanimously," said Gibson.
He said of himself and the other board members, "We’re not here for the pay or the glory. We’re here because we think we can help."

Appointments

At its July 10 reorganizational meeting, the board appointed:

— Dorothea Pfleiderer as clerk;

— Kathleen Parsons as treasurer, records officer, and privacy officer;

— Susan Arditi as deputy treasurer;

— James McAssey as claims auditor;

— Whiteman Osterman & Hanna; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP; Roz Robinson; and Ruberti, Girvin & Ferlazzo, PC as school attorneys;

— Michael Kieserman, First Stop Medical, and The Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center as medical inspectors;

— Anne Smolen as treasurer of extra-curricular funds;

— Mark Diefendorf as comptroller of extra-curricular funds;

— Dorfman-Robbie, CPA’s, PC as auditors;

— Sarita Winchell as purchasing agent;

— Deborah Baron as tax collector;

— Linda Langevin as Title IX officer;

— Joann Donohue as census enumerator;

— Sarita Winchell, Michael Goyer, Donald Provost, Mary Ann Jones, Colleen Brackett, William Kelly, Joseph Sapienza, Theresa Kennedy, Kenneth Lein, Michael Paolino, and Paige Pierce to the district safety committee;

— C. James Coffin and Richard Brackett to the building project and facilities committee;

— Kevin Kroencke, Paige Pierce, and David Gibson to the curriculum committee;

— David Gibson, C. James Coffin, and Thomas McKenna to the planning and governance committee;

— David Gibson, C. James Coffin, and Gary Hubert to the audit committee;

— Kevin Kroencke and C. James Coffin to the negotiations committee;

— Key Bank for checking, money market or savings accounts; and

— The Times Union, The Altamont Enterprise, and the Spotlight as official newspapers to carry school legal advertising.