DELHI _ The Delhi Central School teachers' union held a special meeting Monday and passed a resolution expressing no confidence in Superintendent John Mulholland.
Delhi teachers' union President Don Sanford said a series of incidents at the school led the membership to request a special union meeting.
"We had a union meeting after school on Monday, and there was an unusually high attendance," Sanford said. "The natural response to the lack of leadership in the school immediately led to a resolution expressing no confidence."
Sanford said 98 percent of the members who voted were in support of the resolution, and there were two abstentions. The union has about 90 members.
Mulholland said Thursday that he has heard about the union's resolution but has not received official notice.
He said the Delhi School Board is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. today, but the board will immediately go into executive session to discuss contractual and personnel matters with no action to be taken.
Mike Lynch, a New York State Unified Teachers state representative, said there has been a series of incidents related to student behavior and conduct. Those include alleged drug and alcohol use, vandalism and the publication of a mock student handbook that led to the meeting and the resolution.
"The student handbook held on the school grounds last week was the last straw," Lynch said.
The teachers' decision to pass the resolution came as a shock, he said.
"I haven't had a group take a vote of no confidence ever before in my career," Lynch said. "It blew me away when I heard they had done it."
Mulholland said he thinks the pranks during the last few weeks have been blown out of proportion.
"The camp out was a mistake on our part, no doubt about it," Mulholland said. "It was supposed to be an exercise in trust, but it was a bad idea."
The camp out that took place on school grounds last Wednesday ended abruptly when Middle School Principal Richard Hughes stopped by and was concerned that the students might be drinking. Hughes called the Delhi Village Police, and students were sent home.
Mulholland said no punishment was handed out because Hughes was the administrator involved, and he didn't submit write-ups recommending further action.
Mulholland said one boy who was suspected of drinking took a Breathalyzer and had a reading of zero. Another boy who had allegedly used drugs took a urine test the following day and also tested negative.
Other incidents said to have occurred
There was also was a break-in at the school a few weeks ago, according to the superintendent. He said four boys broke in through doors that should have been repaired years ago.
They spread toothpaste and maple syrup in the stairwells, but didn't cause any permanent damage, he said.
"Those boys turned themselves in," Mulholland said. "They were each given two days' suspension from school and eight hours of community service. If they hadn't admitted what they had done, we never would have known who did it."
Mulholland said their community service included cleaning up the lawn to prepare for graduation.
The mock student handbook was just a case of several kids trying to do a satire, according to the superintendent.
"Most of the handbook was fine, but one entry was extremely inappropriate," Mulholland said. "Some of it was a good attempt at satire, but they named some of the teachers and that didn't go over well."
Sanford said he didn't want to address the incidents because he didn't want to implicate any students. He said he wants to keep the focus on the administration.
"We think it is important for the superintendent and board to know how we feel," he said. "We are hoping to have a conversation with the board about taking the steps that need to be taken to move the district forward.
"The lack of leadership from the superintendent has resulted in an environment that is not conducive to teaching and learning," Sanford continued. "As drastic a measure as this was, we really desire to work in a constructive manner with the board. This measure was not taken lightly."
Delhi School Board President Nancy Deming was not available by phone for comment Thursday.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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