Statement of Board President Anthony Borrelli
Regarding Resignation of Board Member Dathan Paterno
(Delivered at Board of Education Meeting January 23, 2017)
I would like to respond to the many emails and phone calls the District has received over the past 24 hours and update the community regarding the personal online comments made by a Board member, now former Board member, of District 64.
Before I begin my comments, however, I do want to formally announce that Dr. Dathan Paterno submitted his resignation as a Board member this morning, which was effective immediately.
Board members -- being representatives of the community at large -- serve the community in the emotional development and formal education of the District’s children. In this capacity, Board members are held to a high degree of integrity in their conduct. Each Board member represents the high degree of truth, honesty, respect and caring that we aim to instill in our children. To that end, there is both direct and indirect Board policy that governs the conduct of Members of the Board. Board Policy encourages respect and understanding. Board Policy encourages that a Board member represents the Board in all he or she does and make certain that such actions do not compromise the Board or Administration. Finally, each Board member is also recognized as a taxpaying individual citizen of the community who has a right to his or her own opinion. Those personal opinions, however, are not authorized nor are they reflective of the opinions of the entire Board of Education.
Dr. Paterno released recent personal statements on his private Twitter account over the weekend. Again, those statements do not reflect the thoughts, attitude or opinions of the District in general or of this Board of Education in specific. His statements were based on his own personal opinions and, as provocative as they were, were made from his position of a taxpayer of the community. His statements are in no way shared by or condoned by the Board. They remain his private statements from his private social media account. As noted in his resignation letter to the community, Dr. Paterno realizes the effect of his comments on the District and resigned early this morning.
While unfortunate, we should take the time to learn and reinforce our ideas of respect and civility. These are qualities that we teach our children and qualities that we should retain as adults.
The District is larger than one individual and we will continue our mission to serve our community. In the coming days, the Board will publish to the District website the process for applicants to fill the vacated Board seat. I thank in advance any of those who may seek to become a part of what we are truly trying to accomplish in District 64.