Mineola board orders outside investigation of BYOG initiative, pauses digital rollout and hires special counsel

The Mineola Union Free School District Board of Education voted Oct. 9 to hire outside counsel to investigate questions raised about the district's Build Your Own Grade (BYOG) initiative and said the BYOG digital component will remain suspended while that review is completed.

Board President Cheryl Ampersona announced the board's decision to retain Wightman, Osterman & Hannah LLP as special counsel at $230 per hour to 'conduct an investigation regarding a certain confidential matter'; the resolution was approved by voice vote. "Resolution 45 passes," the board secretary announced following the vote.

Why it matters: The board's action follows several weeks of community concern about BYOG's development, whether district resources were used to build a private product, and whether student data were properly protected. Dozens of parents, teachers and residents spoke at the meeting, urging the board to seek an impartial review and to consider suspension or removal of district leadership if problems are substantiated.

Superintendent Michael Naglas addressed the meeting before public comment, apologizing for a 'failed implementation' of the initiative…