NEWBURGH – Darren Stridiron has been a thorn in the side of fellow Newburgh school board members challenging their decisions on a number of issues.
Now he is locked in another controversy with the board.
Stridiron’s seven-year-old son is a non-verbal autistic child who he and his wife have been transporting daily to and from his school in Millbrook following a series of incidents on district buses.
Stridiron submitted a bill for reimbursement for $2,270.75 for mileage to transport Zach to school and back since March 13.
In a memo to the board members and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell, the district’s attorney, David Shaw, wrote that since Stridiron is a school board member, he can only receive a maximum of $750 toward transportation as per state law.
But Stridiron is challenging that ruling saying federal law trumps the state law and he believes there is a motive behind it.
“It is clear that they are trying to get me to resign from the board for money, which is the definition of bribery,” he told Mid-Hudson News.
Shaw wrote in his memo that “To enter into a contract which exceeds that amount (of $750) would constitute a prohibited conflict of interest, making it necessary for the board member to discontinue service to the board.”
