Hempstead Schools appeals voting results and puts two workers on administrative leave
During a short but heated meeting, the Hempstead Union Free School District Board of Education placed the district clerk and another official on leave.
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During an emergency board meeting Friday, Hempstead School’s district clerk, April Keys, and district clerk pro tem, Lottie Whitehead, were placed on administrative leave with pay pending investigation.
The decision was not unanimous.
After the meeting there were tense moments as board members talked about whether both officials could be investigated at the same time.
The meeting ended with people angrily leaving the room.
The board has not said why the officials were placed on leave, and it hasn't officially said why it voted to begin the process of appealing the results of Tuesday's election.
Board member Victor Pratt spoke with News 12. He said other board members claim the district clerk tampered with absentee ballots.
"They're trying to make it seem like there was something discarded and nothing was discarded,” Pratt said.
Pratt also said board members are not happy he was reelected to the board.
“It's more about they don't like what the outcome was, and they want to do it over,” Pratt said.
Pratt said if the election vote is redone, the school budget would also have been voted on again.
Board of Education President Jeffrey Spencer said he isn't allowed to comment because it's now an active investigation. News 12 also reached out to the district superintendent and state education department. The next board meeting is Wednesday.
