South Bend school board leaders are asking one of their members to apologize and give up his role as vice president of the board.
They say Bill Sniadecki falsely accused the superintendent of illegal activity.
He told a reporter for the South Bend Tribune earlier this week that the school board inappropriately discussed details of potential school closures, during a meeting that was not open to the public.
Sniadecki said that the whole discussion was basically about the pros and cons of closing certain schools, and he said he told the board that made him uncomfortable. He thought those talks should happen in a public meeting, as required by law.
Roger Parent, school board president, and Michelle Engel, school board secretary, fired back during a press conference Friday condemning Sniadecki for what they say are false accusations.
They say they did not discuss particulars of closing certain schools and that Sniadecki never mentioned any discomfort during the meeting.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss pending litigation, Parent said, though he recalls at one point someone mentioned briefly in general terms that if you close a school, it can be sold.
Parent and Engel are asking Sniadecki to apologize and step down from his post as vice president.
“It’s time to put a stop to this because it's hurting the corporation, it’s hurting the students, and it’s hurting our teachers,” said Parent, “we should not have to be here today to discuss all this stuff nor should the superintendent be bullied around.”
Sniadecki said Friday that he has nothing to apologize for, and he stands by his statements.
When asked if he would give up his vice presidency, he responded, "That’s not going to happen."
