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Board rejects Southampton Art Center petition; director says she was 'blindsided'
Summary
Trustees voted to reject a petition that would have placed a $150,000 contract proposal for the Southampton Art Center on the May ballot, citing New York Education Law definitions for libraries and museums; the Art Center's executive director told the board she was surprised and requested clearer legal guidance.
The Southampton Union Free School District Board of Education voted to reject a petition seeking authorization to contract with the Southampton Art Center for $150,000 for the 2025–26 year after legal counsel told the board the organization did not qualify under the Education Law provisions that permit certain external organizations (libraries or chartered museums) to be placed on the ballot.
The board read a resolution finding the petitioner did not meet the statutory definition required to compel inclusion on the ballot and directed the district clerk to notify the petitioner of the decision. "The proposed proposition to contract with the Southampton Arts Center is forbidden by law," the board resolution read during the meeting.
Christina Straswell, whom the meeting transcript identifies as executive director of the Southampton Art Center, addressed the board during the second public‑comment period and said she was taken aback by the legal determination. "I must admit that I'm blindsided by this," Straswell said, adding the organization spent a year‑and‑a‑half working with the State Education Department and had not been warned it would be disqualified on that basis.
Board members noted that a separate petition from the Southampton Youth Association seeking a $460,000 authorization for the 2025–26 school year was accepted for inclusion on the May ballot; the board treated the two petitions under different statutory authorities based on the services they provide.
The board's public record of its deliberation cites Education Law provisions that distinguish types of chartered organizations that may be included on a school district ballot; administrators advised Straswell to seek clarification with legal counsel and indicated the district's attorneys had reviewed the petition against the applicable sections of Education Law.
The board directed the clerk to notify petitioners of both actions; trustees moved into executive session after routine closing business.
