When a Conflict Requires Not Withdrawal, But Ending a Controversy
<B>Update below</b> (August 10, 2009):<br>
When an official has a conflict of interest, the usual course is to
withdraw from any discussion or vote on the matter. But this is not
always the case. Sometimes a conflict of interest requires that a
responsible official speak up.<br>
<br>
Such a situation has occurred in Hingham (MA). Although
the town's board of selectmen and a naming committee recommended that a
new elementary school built on the site of the old East School be named
East School, the school committee decided to name it after the current
superintendent of schools, according to articles in
the Boston <span>Globe</span> (<a href="http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/hingham/2009/06/special_town_meetin…; target="”_blank”">1</a>
and <a href="http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/hingham/2009/07/selectmen_school_op…; target="”_blank”">2</a>),
as well as a <a href="http://www.towncommon.net/tcma/showthread.php?t=17274" target="”_blank”">post in <span>Town Common</span></a>, and <a href="http://aroundhingham.blogspot.com/" target="”_blank”"><span>a post in Around Hingham</span> blog</a>.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/news/opinions/x1543609173/HINGHAM-OP…; target="”_blank”">An
opinion piece</a> in the Hingham <span>Journal</span>
correctly pointed out that there is a conflict of interest here. The
school superintendent, who would normally be taking a lead on what has
become an extremely controversial issue, has said nothing. The board of
selectmen, which changed its mind, has been forced to let the town
meeting decide (the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow).<br>
<br>
Of course, the superintendent cannot come out in favor of naming the
school after her, but she can come out and thank the school committee,
to which she reports, for its kindness, and decline the honor it
bestowed on her.<br>
<br>
As I've <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/475" target="”_blank”">written before</a>,
but in terms of elected officials, buildings and the like should not be
named after serving officials. Yes, there's no question of a gift
involved here, as there is when, say, an institute or airport is named
after an official. But it is wrong for a school committee to put its
own superintendent in a conflict situation. However this
controversy comes out, at least in the short run, the naming of the school will hurt her
reputation more than it will help it. And it is certainly unnecessarily divisive to the community.<br>
<br>
This messy situation is doubly problematic,
because the superintendent reports to the school committee and,
therefore, it is difficult for her to publicly differ with it. This
puts her in the position of not being able to do the responsible thing
without offending her superiors.<br>
<br>
Who knows what the superintendent said to school committee members
about the school's name. Perhaps she was simply honored and did not
appreciate the ramifications. But when it became such a controversy,
requiring a special town meeting, she should have stepped forward,
explained the problem, and declined the honor. After all, educating the
public is what is most important to a school superintendent.<br>
<br>
<b>Update</b> (August 10, 2009): The Town Meeting voted more than 2 to 1 to override the school committee's decision to name the school after the school superintendent, and it also decided that any school names must be approved by the Town Meeting. According to <a href="http://www.patriotledger.com/news/state_news/x804163516/Hingham-voters-…; target="”_blank”">an article</a> in the <i>Patriot-Ledger,</i> the superintendent spoke at the beginning of the meeting, saying that she was "saddened that the school committee was being second-guessed in its decision." 1,400 people came out on an August evening.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
---</p>