Pocono News Section

Hazleton Area Contract Mystery: School Board Members 'In Dark'

Hazleton Area Contract Mystery: School Board Members 'In Dark' - Friday, January 29, 2010 at 10:35PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Friday, Jan 29, 2010 @ 10:35pm EST

HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY- Count at least four deals ushered through by the Hazleton Area School Board Thursday night that some board members questioned what was it they were voting on.

Board member Carmella Yenkevich said a contract to hire a law firm for construction litigation came out of nowhere. "When I asked about the attorney, the name was put on there without contacting the attorney himself. And if there's no amount given on the agenda, we could be paying anything when the time comes," Yenkevich said.

Board member Bob Childs seconded Yenkevich's concerns, saying board work sessions were wiped out when a new majority came into power, headed by President Paulette Platukis. Generally boards use work sessions to hash out differences and understand legislation they'll soon vote on. Childs said the shuttering of board work sessions raises serious concerns for Hazleton taxpayers. "We were not prepared, we were not given much of the information that showed up on the agenda."

Childs and Yenkevich are recently part of the board minority. A power shift following the November election changed the political landscape of the board.

Platukis was questioned by the I-Team after Thursday evening's three hour board meeting about the lack of information provided to the media and members of the public concerning a list of contracts shuttled through. "These are very general items as you know. There are some people here who don't agree with some of the principles that we are doing, so I think some of these are totally unfounded. There are just general statements these people have made," Platukis said.

But members of the minority pointed to specifics. They asked how can a board member engage in discussion when they aren't provided information?

"There were several items... no contracts to vote on last night and (we were) making major decisions and we had no information," Yenkevich said.

Board President Platukis did not appreciate our questions. While pledging to provide full information to the media and public, on camera, Platukis accused Eyewitness News of not "being nice."

Platukis would not address the contracts in question.

The I-Team is in the process of filing the appropriate paperwork to obtain the information.