COMMENTARY
Bruce Andriatch: Ken-Ton owes public some answers
The Town of Tonawanda Police Department had enough evidence to confront former Kenmore East Principal LuAnn Ostanski about some money missing from a school safe. The evidence, said to be surveillance photographs of her putting on latex gloves and stealing $160, was enough to get her to admit that she had done it. It was enough to get her to submit her resignation and to leave her job in disgrace while she awaits her day in court.
But so far, none of that is enough for anyone in authority in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District to say anything about this incredible violation of the public trust.
The men and women who are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure that your children are provided with a good education in a safe and law-abiding environment have nothing to say about a principal accused of being a thief.
Instead, the superintendent, Mark P. Mondanaro, released a statement on the district Web site and by fax to local media in which he said that “the district will issue no further comment nor grant personal interviews on the matter at this time.”
The principal’s behavior is allegedly criminal. But it might be matched by the colossal arrogance of school officials who can’t be bothered to answer questions posed by the media on behalf of the public.
This might be more shocking if it were unusual, but it isn’t. The same people who owe their paychecks to your tax dollars—whether in a school district or local government—who can’t issue a news release fast enough when something positive happens, suddenly can’t figure out how their telephones work when something bad happens.
To be fair, School Board President Melissa Brinson did return phone calls from reporters seeking information in the Kenmore East case. But she didn’t really provide any, beyond saying the district was cooperating with police.
Why? Why won’t the highly paid superintendent, who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the schools, say anything? Why hasn’t the district’s paid spokesman, Michael Haggerty, returned phone calls? Are they getting legal advice to say nothing?
Maybe so, but there is plenty the district could say. In fact, when a reporter asked a police official how much money is missing from the safe, she was told that the police don’t know and the school district would have to provide that information. And we know what the district’s answer is.
Here are some other questions you should want answered about what’s going on in this multimillion-dollar corporation wholly funded by the public: Who did the stolen money belong to? Was it raised by students or faculty for some purpose? Ostanski told police she took less than $1,000. Is the district sure about that? If she stole more than $1,000, she could be charged with a felony and face a state prison sentence. Is the district pursuing that?
Who kept records about what was in the safe? Is the district or the school going to get the money back? And what about this surveillance camera? Is this a school camera? If it is, wouldn’t Ostanski have known that she would be seen on it? If it isn’t, where did it come from?
If you pay close enough attention to such things, you’ll often hear public officials say they can’t comment about something. That’s not really true. What they mean to say is that they won’t.
Ken-Ton officials can comment. They can give the people who pay their salaries more information. Maybe more importantly in this case, they should.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments
Learn more about our moderation system.