Newport
“I think I am better suited where I am and I enjoy it more,” Spaulding said on Monday.
Also last week, Spaulding filed a motion for a reconsideration of the superior court ruling that denied him an injunction against the district that would have stopped the March 14 vote on the school district warrant, including the budget, which was approved.
In his filing through attorney Mike Shklar, Spaulding argues that although Judge Brian Tucker denied him the preliminary relief, the judget did not resolve the main issue he raised in his petition that was filed earlier this month.
In his initial filing, Spaulding claimed the school district did not provide him with an adequate breakdown of the “cost items” in the proposed teachers’ contract at budget hearings, as required by law. He wanted the March 14 annual school meeting vote postponed until all cost items were provided.
The district at first provided the gross amount of the contract and later, after the budget hearings, more detail. The court understood the central issue, “which is whether or not the phrase ‘cost items’ permits the Defendant to use a gross figure including all such items or whether it must disclose them separately,” the motion for reconsideration states.
“That this Court erred in dismissing Plaintiff’s petition without resolving this issue because its purported solution would be injurious to all parties simply encourages additional and unnecessary litigation,” the motion reads.
Spaulding said the ruling forces him to complete additional filings and it would take to time serve and respond while the school district must have the ability to spend money beginning July 1. This uncertainty and possible renewed action would have a negative effect on the school district, Spaulding said.
“That because this Court’s ruling did not conclusively adjudicate a properly plead request for relief and address a clearly disputed issue of law, the Court should reconsider its decision and issue a true final decision with or without further hearing,” the motion concludes.
Monday afternoon, Superintendent Cindy Gallagher said she has notified the more than 25 residents who received write-in votes and invited them to the board meeting on April 13 and has extended an open invitation to anyone else interested in the position. Gallagher said she hopes to fill the vacancy before the end of April.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com
