Resident passes on complaint against ex-superintendent

Stonewick Court resident Hal Brown says wife was harassed

by Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
   Stonewick Court resident Hal Brown won’t file an ethics complaint against former Superintendent Karen Lake over an incident between his photographer wife and Dr. Lake during a student protest in June.
   Mr. Brown asked about filing an ethics complaint against Dr. Lake at Monday’s board meeting, but said he won’t pursue it after being told the district would have to pay any legal fees for Dr. Lake.
   Mr. Brown said Dr. Lake allegedly demanded the film from his wife’s camera after she snapped a picture of the former superintendent in the Board of Education Offices during the class of 2007’s protest regarding being in school for a full day on May 18.
   His wife, a staff photographer for the Courier News Newspaper in Bridgewater, was in the school district administration office on May 17 with two students who were waiting to speak to Dr. Lake regarding a requirement for Hillsborough High School students to attend classes May 18, the date of the senior prom, following the school’s closure because of a threat written a bathroom.
   Mr. Brown said his wife did not turn over her digital camera, and left the office.
   ”She (Dr. Lake) started screaming and yelling and demanded the film out of my wife’s digital camera,” said Mr. Brown. “It was a whole big scene in front of the kids.
   According to Mr. Brown, Dr. Lake complained to the Courier News, but later called to apologize.
   ”At this point, because I see she filed a complaint against David (Kanaby) because of an e-mail, how do I go about filing an ethics complaint against your former employee?” Mr. Brown asked. “She certainly acted in an unprofessional and unethical manner.”
   Board President Neil Hudes said that the State Ethics Commission handles complaints regarding school administrators but wasn’t certain if it was open to the public.
   Mr. Brown opted not to file a complaint after he was told the district would pay Dr. Lake’s legal expenses if he did.
   Dr. Lake could not be reached for comment.