Democrat Board of Education Chairman Karen Hirsh has been exposed by Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission for a violation of the law in a preliminary ruling.
The FOIC found Hirsch called an improper “emergency” meeting to fill a Republican vacancy on the Board in, what was clearly, an attempt for Democrats to achieve an effective majority on the Board. This egregious action undermines Greenwich’s tradition of fair and bipartisan governance, leaving voters to question the integrity of Democratic leadership.
The controversy stems from the resignation of Republican Karen Kowalski creating a vacancy that requires, by law, the Board of Education to fill within 30 days. Failure to do so shifts the responsibility to the Board of Selectmen.
Hirsch and the other Democrats on the Board let 96 days pass without action. Their failure allowed the vacancy to be filled by First Selectman Fred Camillo and the Board of Selectman. Camillo then scheduled a lawful meeting to appoint a replacement, adhering to all legal notice requirements.
In response, Hirsh declared an “emergency”—without justification—and called a Board meeting with just nine minutes notice to appoint Jen Behette. Although a registered Republican Behette made clear she would not caucus with Republicans nor support a Republican chairman. In fact she has voted in the past year in lockstep with Democrats.
The Freedom of Information Commission’s preliminary ruling confirmed that there was no emergency so Hirsh acted illegally. They said that the meeting would be “null and void” which removes Hirsh’s pal Behette from the board. That should mean that Paul Cappiali who was appointed lawfully by the Board of Selectman will serve.
Camillo saved the Town by filing suits to stop Hirsh’s illegal power grab and standing firm against a violation of the public’s trust. His legal challenge upheld the rule of law, ensuring that Greenwich’s government remains accountable to its residents. Democrats have criticized this action but the fact is Camillo is the defender of the fairness and integrity that have defined our town.
This corrupt action and power grab by the Board of Education Democrats is reminiscent of the corruption and power grab the Board of Estimate & Taxation exercised to gain control of the BET for two years in 2017. At that time their cheating was so severe that the State Election Enforcement Commission imposed a fine on all 6 BET Democrats. That cumulative fine for those members and one of their Treasurers was the largest cumulative fine ever imposed by the SEEC on a local campaign. That is how bad the BET Democrats corruption was.
Now with some of those involved in the previous BET corruption still serving and Democrats campaigning for a majority, Hirsch’s actions on the Board of Education serve as a warning of what lies ahead if voters grant Democrats a BET majority.
There is still much to be adjudicated in this Board of Education scandal. While the appointment of the Democrat’s choice will be voided, what does this mean for the decisions the Board of Education made over the past year.
Even the FOIC preliminary ruling states that Hirsch’s illegal actions “may call into question the legality of any actions….in which Ms. Behette’s vote constituted the deciding vote.” Among those votes was the rushed vote to extend the superintendent’s contract 2 years. Still more to come but all those votes are now in limbo due to Hirsh’s illegal action.
Greenwich will manage through this Democrat corruption, much as we managed through the Democrat corruption when they had the majority of the BET. But it saddens me. This was never the way our government in Greenwich worked. Democrats thirst for power has really changed things.
Greenwich’s government has long been a model of bipartisanship with the Board of Education and Board of Estimate structured with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans and our RTM operating without party affiliation. Historically when a vacancy occurred, boards respected the resigning member’s party caucus to nominate the replacement, fostering collaboration and trust.
Hirsh’s decision to bypass this tradition in favor of a rushed, illegal meeting breaks with decades of Greenwich’s cooperative governance. This reflects a troubling willingness of Democrats to prioritize power over principle. What a shame. Democrats have destroyed the civility that served our town so well.
Edward Dadakis has been involved in local government for over 40 years.
