Community accuses board member of overreach; ethics complaints, staff departures and calls for resignations dominate Washington Township meeting
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Summary
Public commenters and employees accused a board member of submitting an organizational chart naming staff and urged her resignation after the interim superintendent resigned; multiple speakers raised ethics, transparency and personnel concerns and referenced the doctrine of necessity and pending ethics complaints.
Several residents, former employees and union leaders used the board’s public-comment period to accuse board member Connie Baker of overreach after an organizational chart that named district employees and recommended personnel actions was circulated. Speakers said the chart was received by the interim superintendent, Jack McGee, and several commenters linked the document and subsequent conduct to McGee’s resignation the following day.
A community member told the board, “Connie Baker created and submitted an organization chart to the interim superintendent… that recommended by name which district employees should be terminated, demoted, or promoted,” and called for Baker’s immediate resignation. The comment added that the chart had been circulated “unilaterally without board consultation and completely outside her authority as a school board member.”
Former employee Nazan Ambrose said the dispute has real consequences for staff. “I was fired. My life has been affected by this,” Ambrose said, describing lost employment and urging other employees to speak up about working conditions. Rob Scardio, WTEA vice president, praised district secretaries and warned against further cuts to those positions; other speakers described rising workloads, unfilled positions and a lack of consistent special-education staffing.
Board members and other participants disputed some contextual claims during the meeting. One speaker who identified herself as a board member said she and another board member had filed an ethics complaint and that the complaint process should be allowed to proceed. Another board member said board members are permitted to raise ethics complaints.
Several speakers criticized the board’s use of the “doctrine of necessity,” a governance practice invoked in recent meetings, and said it had been applied inconsistently. A public commenter said the doctrine had been “invoked” at prior meetings and questioned whether the board had the required unconflicted votes when it was used.
Teachers and union representatives described a district strained by staff shortages and program reductions. One teacher said kindergarten and preschool teachers were handling heavier workloads and that some special-education supports were missing through much of the year. A teacher who works with emotional-support students said consistency of staff is critical and asked trustees to “please educate yourself in what these programs are doing for the kids that are enrolled.”
Speakers urged greater transparency: requests included publishing committee minutes, using ParentSquare or other district communication tools for agenda notices, posting meeting minutes sooner, and holding a board retreat to build a multiyear plan. Resident James Masati urged “leadership, healing and kindness” and asked the board to find ways to bridge internal divisions.
Several speakers said they feared the district’s reputation and the effect on students if governance and staffing problems persist. Board members pointed to pending ethics procedures and said the board would allow the formal processes to proceed.
