BOE President Robin Kulwin’s glaring spinconsistencies

There have been a number of conspicuous contradictions (to put it mildly) in recent comments from BOE President Robin Kulwin about developments related to the computer breach investigation: 

FROM THE MONTCLAIR TIMES:  The board president clarified public opinion suggesting that she is directing the investigation, saying that is not her place and that (BOE attorney Mark) Tabakin is leading the way.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/235387911_Montclair_Township_Council_denies_school_board_s_request_for_server_access.html?page=all

FROM MONTCLAIR PATCH:  Kulwin said she did not direct the school board’s attorneys to seek out the identity of Assessmentgate or anyone else who has been critical. 

“I am assuming [the attorney] came up with what he thought were valid reasons as a professional,” she said. 

http://montclair.patch.com/groups/schools/p/montclair-council-denies-board-of-education-access-to-joint-servers

If what Kulwin is saying above is correct, then BOE attorney Mark Tabakin has gone rogue and is carrying out his investigation with no approval, authorization, or permission from the BOE.  And if that’s the case, then Tabakin should be professionally censured and fired immediately.

However, it’s difficult to believe that Kulwin isn’t directing Tabakin and that “Tabakin is leading the way” – especially when her authorization is on each of the four subpoenas that have been served by Tabakin’s firm:

http://www.aclu-nj.org/files/1413/8618/9802/MBOE-146_Subpoena_upon_Google.pdf (see page 4 of 6)

http://www.aclu-nj.org/files/6713/8618/9800/MBOE146_Subpoena_of_G__Gilmore_RGL.pdf (see page 2 of 2)

http://www.aclu-nj.org/files/4813/8618/9800/MBOE146_Subpoena_of_D__Cummings_RGL.pdf (see page 2 of 2)

http://www.aclu-nj.org/files/8713/8618/9801/MBOE-146_Subpoena_upon_Moniker.pdf (see page 4 of 13)

FROM BARISTANET:  Kulwin says the Council’s vote to deny access will prevent the district from determining the circumstances surrounding the released materials. “It is a roadblock that is an extreme disservice to Montclair Public Schools educators, who worked on the materials, and to the 6,500 Montclair children they serve.  Giving that the personnel costs to administer the network is 95% borne by the District, it is also a disservice to every taxpayer in Montclair.”

http://kids.baristanet.com/2013/12/montclair-township-council-denies-school-board-access-server-for-part-investigation/

Kulwin’s sudden concern about the wasteful expenditure of Montclair taxpayer dollars is at odds with the spending spree that her extralegal pursuits have racked up since the BOE’s breach investigation began.  The legal bill will include:

• the cost of the month long investigation into the security breach, which is still going on and has not yet revealed a culprit
• costs for serving my subpoena as well as the BOE-authorized subpoenas of online commenters who have been critical of the actions of the Board and their superintendent Penny MacCormack
• payment for the participation and presence of the Board’s retained attorney at all BOE meetings
• attorney fees for court appearances

Given the trail of facts that are quickly accessible online, it’s too easy for Kulwin’s positions to be proven unreliable and unbelievable.  If Kulwin (and the BOE) would seek to be more transparent, honest, and cooperative with the community, she’d gain much greater credibility - and her critics wouldn’t have as much to write about.