Manchester Democrat David Scannell is resigning. Readers will recognize the name. Scannell is at the center of an orchestrated political hit against a fellow board of school committee member Rich Girard.
An 18-year old voter who happens to be a student penned a public statement concerning the contract negotiations between the city ant the Teachers union. Mr. Girard, who is leading the negotiation for the Board of School Committee, looked up the email address through the district’s mail system – at the time a legitimate use – and sent a response.
Before the next Board meeting Scannell, interested Union Teachers, and the student’s parents staged a public lynching over student privacy rights.
As noted here, I believe Rachel Phelan’s parents leaked the email to Scannell and the press to perpetuate the hit. The Phelan’s are Manchester Democrats. Rachel’s mom is a Manchester teacher. The source for Rachel’s inaccurate public letter about contract negotiations.
A lawyer retained for the student in the matter wrote a letter, which also leaked to the press. Scannell eventually admitted to the leak before the board could vote to request a police investigation.
What started out as a hit against Girard over student privacy became an actual violation of student privacy perpetrated by Democrats trying to drive Rich Girard off the School Board.
And now Scannell is resigning.
Take the Win
“David Scannell was an intentionally divisive board member whose actions were designed to either aggrandize himself or scandalize members of the board or the administration,” said Girard. “The rules of conduct, the charter and state law were casualties when they stood in the way of his pursuit. His grandstanding often undermined the administration and the board on matters of substance. His scorched Earth antics caused a great deal of upset and, in my opinion, were a key reason why Dr. Vargas resigned.
“I am glad he’s gone and believe his departure will better enable the board to work on the very difficult issues before it, not the least of which is the budget and negotiations.”
Scannell says it is because he has moved.
“Effective May 1, I will not be a Ward 2 resident,” writes Scannell. “Thus, I must resign from the Board of School Committee on that day.
Did David Scannell drive himself out of Manchester? We don’t know yet. But it looks that way.
If so, Manchester is better for it.
