I realize that only recently, and by a split vote, did the School Board renew the contract of Superintendent Joseph Lewis. Even then, the board knew enough for some of its members to have serious doubts. The board should have taken counsel of its doubts.
At that point, Lewis had "only" proposed to siphon millions out of taxpayers' wallets to pay for destroying a usable school and replacing it with another. He has since held to that policy, despite telling the Bethlehem Press that the coming casino will probably mean a need for new schools or at least new classrooms. Also, he has steadfastly refused to deal with the severe overcrowding that exists right now. He has never asked the question why the usable Broughal School cannot be refitted as an elementary school, rather than having it torn down for an athletic field that would benefit only a handful of children. He has even refused to give serious consideration to selling the Broughal building to a private developer who would preserve the old school's historic appearance but put it to private use.
These real estate maneuvers have turned out to be only part of what the superintendent is doing and leaving undone. Even worse is the mess that has been revealed at Nitschmann--and who knows where else?
At Nitschmann, the problem--which has put Bethlehem on the map nationwide, and not as The Christmas City--seems to go back to former Superintendent Tom Doluisio, who recommended John Acerra's appointment as principal over the wishes of the Nitschmann faculty. But the problem blew up on Dr. Lewis's watch, as he himself has observed. And that suggests inept handling of personnel issues, and total insensitivity to what is happening in the schools.
Bethlehem cannot afford any more of this mismanagement.
Oh, and as to the $400-an-hour lawyers who have been hired to help the district through the current "embarassment"--send the bill to Dr. Lewis.
Taxpayers have a right to be fed up.