(Rochester, N.Y.) – A Rochester City School District board member is under fire for calling her colleagues an expletive during Thursday’s monthly meeting.
A district recording of the meeting shows a heated debate about the school busing issue just before 11 p.m. Board member Cynthia Elliot is pushing busing for all students for safety reasons. Her resolution to change the district’s policy was shot down.
As board Vice-President Van White told Elliot to take the issue up in her policy committee, Elliot said, “Jesus, dumb m*****f*****s.”
Van White responded, “Did you press that red button on your mic? Because people need to hear how you talk. You often do it in secret. Do you care to say what you just said?”
“Are you my father?” Elliot said.
Elliot declined an on-camera interview about the incident, but spoke with 13WHAM News on the phone.
“I said it under my breath. I did say it. It wasn't for the public to hear. I was frustrated. It just seems there's no compassion for our children,” she said. When asked if she directed the comment at her colleagues on the board, Elliot said she did.
“Obviously, what was said was highly inappropriate,” said Board President Malik Evans, who said he heard the comment at the meeting. “It's something I don't condone and it's very important for public officials make sure that they watch their tempers while in public.”
“When you hear these comments, it's a bit disparaging to my staff,” said Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard, who said he also heard Elliot’s comment at the meeting. “It's discouraging.”
In her four years on the board, Elliot has developed a reputation for being a contrarian on the school board. She challenged Brizard on issues ranging from food service to consulting contracts. She recently called for him to resign.
“Why are people focusing on my behavior instead of the issues in the district?” Elliot said.
Elliot believes her colleagues are making a big deal out of the incident for political reasons. She is up for reelection next week. After a hard-fought primary, she is one of three Democrats vying for three open seats. The seats typically go to Democrats.
Board member Willa Powell, however, said that the incident is part of a pattern of behavior that occurs out of the public eye.
“It definitely suggests a lack of respect for her colleagues. A lack of impulse control and quite frankly I can't believe I have to serve with someone like that,” Powell said.
