Smithtown names two new members, one critical of school district's diversity work, to anti-bias task force

The Smithtown Town Board on Tuesday voted 5-0 to appoint two new members to the town's anti-bias task force, one of whom had asked Smithtown Central School District leaders at a school board meeting whether they supported "instructing white parents to become white traitors and advocate for white abolition."

Linda Donnelly made those comments at a May 25 board of education meeting, during which she also said the district’s diversity work was a cover for critical race theory. At a July 6 meeting, she said students were being "brainwashed" and "indoctrinated."

District officials have said they do not teach and have not adopted critical race theory, a body of academic thought centered on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation's institutions. Superintendent Mark Secaur said in an email to Newsday earlier this month that conversations about American history must reckon with the role of race and racism. In an email Tuesday, Secaur wrote: "We have a responsibility to create inclusive practices that encourage a sense of community and opportunity for all students. This is good practice, not brainwashing or indoctrination."

Newsday viewed videos of the board of education meetings on the district's Facebook page.

Donnelly, who has described herself in meetings as a 32-year former school district employee, led the local Independence Party and lost a Conservative Party primary bid for town supervisor in 2013. She declined to comment Tuesday.

The other new appointee is Michele Lo Presti-Wouters. She could not be reached for comment.

Richard Palker, a 30-year task force member, said in an interview that town officials had violated a tradition by making the new appointments without consulting with existing members. "The town board did not follow the recommended process for appointing members," he said. Some veteran members were "angry and upset," he added.

Palker was considering quitting, he said, but felt it might be counterproductive. "I believe in fairness and equality, and I think we need this group to watch over the town," he said.

An employee of the town clerk's office said during Tuesday's board meeting that the town had gotten emails about the appointments, but only one resident, Barbara Coniglio, spoke during the meeting's public comment portion. Coniglio told board members she was "concerned about [Donnelly] being appointed," citing Donnelly’s brainwashing comments.

Coniglio said she recently joined the anti-bias task force, along with her husband

Supervisor Edward Wehrheim did not respond specifically to her concerns but said "if in fact there were any problems, the town board has jurisdiction over removal" of task force members.

The town’s anti-bias task force was created to "identify and respond to all forms of bias through a program of education, cultural initiatives, and legislation that promotes both the diversity and unity of the people within the Town of Smithtown," according to a mission statement on the town's website.

Town spokeswoman Nicole Garguilo said in an interview that the task force had been largely dormant before 2019, when discovery of swastikas painted at Nissequogue River State Park prompted town officials to reactivate it. Since then, she said, the task force has done outreach but has not formally responded to any bias incidents.

The town website lists 12 task force members; Garguilo said that only seven or eight were active.

The two prospective candidates had sent emails expressing their interest to Wehrheim and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick, the force's town board liaison, Garguilo said. The town did not share those emails. Nowick did not respond to a voicemail.

Maria LaMalfa, task force chair, did not agree to an interview but said in an email that task force "members are presently chosen and appointed to the ABTF by the Supervisor and Town Board, not by the current ABTF members," using an acronym for Anti-Bias Task Force.

Garguilo watched Donnelly's May 25 comments and said in an email that Donnelly "was speaking personally, on a school district issue which does not concern the town."

While acting on behalf of the task force, Garguilo said, members should not advocate "political or social issues," including the school district’s lesson plans.

The task force, she said, should "foster the diversity and unity of the people within the Town of Smithtown."