Gordon Draws Analogy Between K-L District, Farm

An notable voice at the podium was mixed in among calendar concerns, class size inquiries and questions about standardized testing Thursday night during the public comment portion of the Katonah-Lewisboro board of education meeting.

Former board president Michael Gordon—in delivering remarks not typical to school board meetings—said that "sometimes, we learn best through stories and fables and parables."

"I'd like to share a short fable with you tonight that I think relates to the labor negotions that Dr. [Paul] Kreutzer mentioned earlier this evening," he said.

Check out the video above to learn more about Gordon's comment.

Gordon's story highlighted a relationship—between the school district and its teacher's association—that some in the community have recently characterized as negative and antagonistic. A group of parents calling themselves Forward KLSD recently started a petition that asked the district and its respective associations to "transform the tone of the dialogue about each other from adversarial to collaborative," among other items.

Following Gordon's remarks at the meeting, Sara Weale, one of the petition's organizers, asked for an update on the contract negotiations and the communications between the district and teacher's association that were required as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) approved in Jan. 2011.

District officials said at the meeting they weren't able to comment on labor negotiations. All three of the district's labor contracts—with teachers, support staff and administrators—expire in June 2013.

Before Gordon spoke, the board reviewed the proposed 2013-2014 budget with a quick slideshow run-through by Superintendent Dr. Paul Kreutzer. Trustees are expected to approve it at a special meeting April 1.