Minnuies elected new school board president
High school band uniforms main issue of workshop meeting
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — When Mike Roberts resigned from his position as Middletown Board of Education president two weeks ago, the focus immediately turned to who would succeed him.

All anybody had to do to find his replacement, though, was turn their eyes a few feet to the left, where Joan Minnuies sat during board meetings.

Minnuies, the former vice president of the board, was elected last week to take Roberts’ spot, effective immediately. Minnuies, and Leonard Inzerillo were nominated, but when it came time to vote, Inzerillo declined to be considered. Minnuies’ vice president position was also voted on by board members at last week’s special meeting, and was won by Thomas Conroy.

“I think there was a bit of controversy because people thought that I would just automatically be given the president’s spot because of my position as vice president,” Minnuies said. “If I got the position or not wasn’t a concern. If I got it, fine; if not, that would have been fine too.”

Even though Minnuies is new to the position, her primary goal is to continue on the same path that Roberts took during his tenure.

“I thought Mike did a very good job while he was in charge. His goal was to always improve things as time went on, and I don’t want to change anything when it comes to that. My objective is just to do whatever is best for the kids in Middletown,” Minnuies said.

She also wants to help the other board members of the board by staying out of the way and letting them do things as they always have.

“I’m not one that believes in micromanaging. I think it’s best to just let people work and do what they have to do in order to get a job done,” Minnuies said.

Following the special meeting, the monthly workshop meeting took place, where a new item came up for discussion — band uniforms, or the lack thereof, for Middletown High School North.

The uniforms were ordered in April after the budget for the 2004-05 school year was approved. But in the five months since then, the uniforms have not been received.

According to William Doering, business administrator/board secretary for the district, the uniforms were ordered and should be delivered in December, well after the football season would end.

“How can we not get uniforms in the time that it took to get a field,” Inzerillo said, referring to Middletown South’s brand new outdoor athletic facility. “I can’t understand why this is taking so long.”

Other board members added that the uniforms were “ragged,” and the district should consider renting uniforms for an upcoming band competition that the school will participate in.

When asked if there was something that could be done to speed up the process, Doering replied that it would be a violation of the public bidding law, and the band members would have to wait until December, or whenever the uniforms arrive.