Superintendent: 'I'm being set up' Accusations fly at board meeting as contract talks stall. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | The school superintendent said he feels like he is being "set up" as the district is stuck at an impasse with the teachers union. Superintendent Gordon Pethick ended his regular report by responding to remarks that current labor attorney Richard Bauch would be let go after Monday night's meeting and that Pethick was holding up contract negotiations with the teachers union. Pethick said he was told the remarks were made at a Phillipsburg Education Association meeting. "It makes me feel like I'm being set up for something," Pethick said. "I'm not holding up a negotiation." Pethick's remarks came during a Monday night meeting where several school board members continued to bicker over the hiring process for a labor attorney. Board President Paul Rummerfield has said multiple times Pethick and other board members are stalling the hiring of a labor lawyer. At the Oct. 23 board meeting, board member Chafik Zarbatany brought a letter asking the state school board ethics committee to advise on whether he, Rummerfield and James Hanisak may interview and vote on the labor attorney. All three have family members who are district employees. As of Monday night, Zarbatany still did not have a response from the committee. He was advised to participate now and await the ruling. Hanisak agreed with Rummerfield's assertion that these are stall tactics. "Every issue that comes up they look at us as being in conflict," Hanisak said. After Pethick's report, Rummerfield responded. "If you have a personal gripe, keep it personal," Rummerfield said. Zarbatany said the end of Pethick's report was no place for a rebuttal by Rummerfield. Frank Kish said Pethick is the link to the district operation and shouted at Rummerfield. Rummerfield said he believed Pethick was talking about rumors. "If it's fact, then absolutely, talk till the cows come home," Rummerfield said. Pethick did not call what he said a rumor. And the fighting did not stop at the superintendent. Some board members questioned Rummerfield's actions prior to interviews for the full board attorney at the Oct. 23 meeting. At that meeting, the board consolidated the regular meeting by mass-approving district actions. At the end of that session the board took a recess. When they reconvened, Rummerfield went out into the crowd to ask any remaining members of the public to leave because the interviews would be conducted in an executive session. Former board member Irene Weller said Rummerfield violated the Open Public Meetings Act. "The last two meetings have been very sad meetings," Weller said. "This is not about education; this is about personalities. We really have to get back on track." Weller requested a copy of the Oct. 23 minutes. "Everyone has a right to know what occurred," Weller said. Monday night the board voted to interview the three attorney candidates in public. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.