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Three members of the Monroe County School Board are in line to chair the board when it reorganizes on Nov. 17, but Vice Chairwoman Debra Walker might have the most difficult time winning the position.
Board members Steve Pribramsky and John Dick this week said they won't support making Walker the chairwoman.
"I can say two definitive things," Pribramsky said. "One, I don't want to serve as chairman again. And two, I will never support Debra to do it based on what happened this past year."
Pribramsky and Dick have criticized Walker for adding a contract extension for then-Deputy Superintendent Mike Henriquez to the board's agenda two days before a June meeting. Walker chaired the meeting when Chairman Andy Griffiths was out of town.
Henriquez formerly was the supervisor of Adult Education Coordinator Monique Acevedo, who is charged with stealing more than $300,000 in district money.
"She attempted to bully Andy," Dick said of Walker, referring to the debate when Griffiths phoned in to vote on the Henriquez contract. "It's the same attitude she's had all along."
The chair manages discussions at board meetings and works with the superintendent to set meeting agendas. The chair also votes on issues last, potentially casting the swing vote on a divided board.
Walker said she would support any of the board members as chair and would serve herself if nominated.
"I think it's useful for boards to rotate the chair," she said. "I'm not really out there politicking for the job. I think it's incumbent on all of us to take a turn serving."
Griffiths, the longest-serving board member, has been chairman four times since he was elected in 1992. Walker, elected in 1994, has served once.
Pribramsky said he'd support Griffiths for another term, though last year Pribramsky criticized Griffiths' selection over board ally Dick.
"Andy did a tremendous job, frankly," Pribramsky said. "If he was up for doing it again, a year with [interim Superintendent] Joe Burke and Andy working together with John [Dick] as vice chairman would be very attractive to me."
The past year, Griffiths has presided over a School District in which the superintendent, Randy Acevedo, was suspended by the governor and later convicted of three counts of official misconduct for covering up his wife's activities. And the finance director was forced out, as was another finance employee.
Griffiths wouldn't say who he would support, but said he would serve again if selected. "I think my experience was useful in the challenges in the past year," he said.
Dick said he wouldn't necessarily support Griffiths. "The logical choice is someone who doesn't kowtow to the district administration, and there's only two of us," said Dick, referring to himself and Pribramsky.
Duncan Mathewson is the longest-serving board member who hasn't been chairman; he was elected in 2004. He declined the seat last year and said he might decline again.