A legal opinion, written to clarify the legitimacy of anonymous cash donations to Island schools, instead sowed more dissension at this week’s meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee.
A legal opinion, written to clarify the legitimacy of anonymous cash donations to Island schools, instead sowed more dissension at this week’s meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee.
Superintendent of schools Dr. Richard Smith told committee members Monday night that the three-page opinion from Murphy Lamere and Murphy, longtime attorneys for the Island school system, confirms that schools may legally accept and spend anonymous cash donations.
“Massachusetts law allows for the use of anonymous donations for the payment of legal fees and any other lawful expenditure,” Mr. Smith said.
The issue arose over the summer when an anonymous donor contributed $2,000 and a named donor gave $3,000 on behalf of himself and unidentified friends, with both donations earmarked for the district’s legal fight with Oak Bluffs over an artificial turf field.
On Monday, high school committee member Robert Lionette had a different interpretation of the document, which has not been made public.
“It’s my read that the donor has to be identified, and there’s some criteria established for that identification in this letter, so that’s not anonymous,” Mr. Lionette said.
Committee member Mike Watts said he didn’t read the opinion the way Mr. Lionette did.
“That being said, I don’t understand why we repeatedly seek counsel and choose not to follow their advice,” Mr. Watts said.
“We’ve been told the same thing twice. And despite what they’ve said, the criticism in public is extremely strong, saying we’re acting illegally, we’re taking drug money, we’re criminals,” Mr. Watts said.
The committee voted unanimously to ask Murphy, Lamere and Murphy to explain the written decision at a public meeting to be scheduled this month.
Also Monday, the committee heard a report from high school principal Sara Dingledy on tardy student arrivals.
A bottleneck at the schoolhouse door causes late check-ins every day, even for students who arrive on time, Ms. Dingledy said. The problem is largely caused by students who are dropped off by car just before the start of the school day at 7:40 a.m.
Chronic absenteeism — defined as 10 or more days of unexcused absences — is another problem at the high school, rising from as low as 9 per cent before the pandemic to 26 per cent last year, Ms. Dingledy said.
The rate dropped slightly this year, to 25 per cent, she said.
“We’re still well ahead of our neighboring districts,” she said.
The school is now sending regular attendance reports to all students’ families, assistant principal Jeremy Light said, so parents can be aware of their children’s attendance records.
“It’s been a nice tool... to open up communication with some families,” Mr. Light said.
Among other business, the high school committee unanimously approved wrestling as a co-ed varsity sport beginning with the current season.
Wrestling has been a club sport for two years and coach Jerry Kadien says he now has more than 40 wrestlers, including two girls.
Expenses for the team will eventually be borne by its newly-established booster club, but Ms. Dingledy said she will use some proceeds from a new state grant to purchase wrestling mats.
Comments
There is a big difference
Ted WTThere is a big difference between what is legal and what is right.
It has been oft implied that those individuals and companies that stand to financially gain are the ones making these anonymous donations. Anonymous money should not be used to establish public policy. Vineyarders deserve transparency regardless of what the law allows.
There should be a school
Meonmv TisburyThere should be a school policy of no anonymous donations, which has a slightly dishonest tinge. If the donors would come forward and be identified, this issue would be settled. Would the anonymous donors please identify themselves.
Would the school administration please hire a truant officer or at least notify the parents of unexcused absent students.
Would the school committee please table the turf issue until the design for the new building/ renovations are completed.
Common sense should prevail. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and be a school committee we can be proud of.
I’m embarrassed that the school is still fighting over the turf. We need grownups on the school committee. When you lose, you lose. When you win, you celebrate like crazy.
We don’t need “dark money” in
MartyWe don’t need “dark money” in school politics. We have enough elsewhere.
At first I did not think I
Lorraine EdgartownAt first I did not think I had read this right. Anonymous donations to a public school system? That is not only unbelievable it is highly unethical. I do not care what any local or county or state law says, that is unethical and immoral. We need to know every cent that is spent on our public school system. I am a well traveled person with students in many, many states and countries, this is NOT TO BE allowed in this school system. I realize this is a strong comment but I feel strongly about this for a myriad of reasons. As the saying goes: Follow the money. Publish the names/entities of the anonymous donors.
OK....I think many of you
Islander61 OBOK....I think many of you missed the point of these particular "anonymous" donations. Do you not see the timing of these anonymous donations, they came almost immediately after the up-island towns made their non-binding vote against anonymous donations. (BTW, each of these was below their referendum amount of $5k). I am going to suggest you look at that, these donors were making a point. No matter what Chilmark and WT voted, they could make these donations legally. This is not dark money, these are citizens who were making a point. It isn't drug money. Our school system, up to this point, has taken anonymous donations almost annually. You all just don't like it because these donations were for something you don't support. Schools need donations for a lot of different things, in fact, based on the MVC ruling, this entire project will be fund raised. Let's say a team does a car wash to support buying new uniforms, do they need the names of everyone who came and got their car washed? If not, that is technically an anonymous donation. If you say no, then do you change your mind if they are raising money for the field project? You see, there lies your problem. You say it is ok for the music department but not ok for the field project because you don't support it. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Lastly, with the way the opposition of this project has behaved, don't you think people who would want to donate don't want to be listed by name for fear of being antagonized because they did? Heck, they got a public official to act illegally for their cause what is to stop them from doing just that?
Dear Islander61,
Beka ElDeiry VHDear Islander61,
If you want your opinions and false comparisons to have any credibility, consider signing your name to your accusations. We who live here have different opinions about what practices our schools engage in. I’ll argue that we are not “the opposition” . We are regular people , taxpayers , environmentalist, teachers, kids, coaches ,elected officials, etc . We are engaged citizens who oppose plastic turf and there are a lot of us. Until this project , most citizens would have trust in our principals, that any money donated to our schools would be used under best practices on an intellectual, societally and educationally sound manner. Unfortunately the tail is wagging the dog . A plastic turf is currently one of the most controversial product in the sports and environmental spheres. It’s not a slam dunk for things a school should have . You ( anonymous) cannot compare this product to a musical instrument or a car wash to fund uniforms .
Some people aren’t brave enough to speak publicly about this and sign their name , but I am .
No one has called anyone a
another reasonable person IslandNo one has called anyone a criminal, Mr. Watts. You fail to understand that the vast majority of laws -- local, state, federal -- that we must follow are not part of the criminal code. Nevertheless, we are obligated to follow all of them, including and especially those laws that regulate the conduct of public schools.
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