MARCH 25, 2022 WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES
5
Former CEC 24 president disputes
allegations that she violated bylaws
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIALQNS.COM
QNS
Just a couple of weeks a er former CEC 24 President FerdieLynn
Lee was removed from her seat by a majority vote,
she told QNS she completely disputes any claims that she
violated bylaws.
Lee’s term was set to end in June, but the council worked
to remove her as president on Wednesday, March 9, a er
calling for an investigation. Council members cited Article II,
Section 5 disciplinary action per her removal: “An o cer may
be removed from his/her position as an o cer by a majority
vote of the whole number of the council for misconduct,
malfeasance or neglect of duty, following the referral and
investigation of charges.”
However, Lee adamantly claims she did not violate any
bylaws.
“I can say in full confi dence I didn’t break any bylaws or
regulations,” Lee said. “I attended every single meeting. I
chaired everything I could. I read my o cer’s duties and
stuck to it.”
Lee speculated that her removal was really because of
the politics of the council and her being an outsider as a
non-native New Yorker. Lee was born and raised in Hawaii
and said that her not going through the New York City public
school system might have acted as a disadvantage for her.
“I don’t know New York City schools like many other
parents do,” Lee said. “I’m the strange one because I am not a
product of New York City education.”
During a meeting last week, the council elected former CEC
24 Treasurer Michael Conigliaro as president. Conigliaro
recently ran for City Council for District 29 but lost.
The council conducted their investigation into Lee with
a survey of questions, asking council members about their
experiences with her. According to Lee, the investigative
committee failed to even speak with her directly about these
allegations to uncover the truth.
“A survey was conducted and results were explained to me
and voted based o that,” Lee said. “I would have involved me
more, the person in question.”
CEC 24 Vice President Henry Choi initially called for the
vote to consider removal in February, telling QNS he thought
“a change in presidential leadership would best refl ect the
wishes of the parents in the district.”
Other council members have continuously refused to
speak about the specifi c allegations and issues they held
over Lee. The council did not respond to QNS’ request for
comment by press time.
Lee, herself said she doesn’t fully know why the council
members or parents wanted her to be removed.
“It’s not fully clear,” Lee said. “I’ve been by the book. If anyone
had any perception of me, it was never said to me.”
Lee said that this experience has been extremely upsetting
for her since she joined the organization to do “great things.”
“It was so unfortunate and disappointing,” Lee said. “When
you volunteer to be a part of your own child’s life and their
school life, it’s a big deal. I wanted to do it so that other children’s
and parents’ experience was better. My hope was to
serve as best as I could.”
The council removed her as president but does not have
the power to remove her from the council, so Lee will act as
a council member until June 2023 when she is up for election.
“It’s not going to stop me from doing great things,” Lee said.
“As a CEC member, I’m going to focus on the things that are
important to me and my schools and the schools I liaise with.
I’m no longer the chair of the meeting but that’s OK with me.
We set out to be an advisory board and that’s what we’re going
to do until we’re no longer elected.”
Photo via cec24.org
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