Last week, members of the Starpoint Central School District’s Board of Education met behind closed doors for two and half hours with embattled Superintendent Sean Croft. It was the first meeting between the board and Croft since his Aug. 31 crash and DWI arrest in West Seneca.
The superintendent was placed on leave from his post immediately following the crash which saw Croft drive into a tree while traveling through a residential neighborhood about 3:40 p.m. Croft failed field sobriety tests at the scene and a roadside breath test was positive for alcohol. He refused a breath test at the West Seneca Police Station to determine his blood alcohol content.
Croft pleaded not guilty to a charge of DWI on Sept. 17. He’s now due back in court on Oct. 15 for further proceedings. His state driver’s license has also been temporarily suspended.
School Board President Jeffrey Duncan has declined to say how long Croft would be on leave but considering it’s been a month and nothing’s been determined, we have to believe the decision is likely tied to the Oct. 15 court date, or whatever further proceedings come in the case. If Croft pleads guilty to a lesser charge is he off the hook with the school district?
In a release sent out late last week on their meeting with Croft, board members said, “(The) meeting was an important opportunity to gather additional facts as we consider the best path forward for the district. The board is committed to resolving this matter promptly, but we will not compromise care and thoroughness on a matter of this importance. The board values the community’s confidence and trust as we work through this decision.”
We’re not sure what “additional facts” are really warranted here. The school superintendent was driving through a residential neighborhood in the middle of the day and crashed into a tree with enough force to trigger his vehicle’s airbag. He was arrested after trained police officers spotted signs of intoxication and he failed field sobriety tests at the scene. As reported, a roadside breath test determined the presence of alcohol on his breath. We just don’t know exactly how intoxicated Croft was, due to his refusal to take the BAC test at the station.
What we do know is the situation shows a stunning lack of judgment from the man who’s supposed to be leading the Starpoint Central School District. Thankfully he just hit a tree and not another vehicle or someone crossing the street while walking their dog. Let’s not forget this was a nice Saturday afternoon in a residential neighborhood. As is the case with every instance of drunken driving, there’s a very real potential for tragedy.
What did the school board and Croft discuss for two and half hours last week? What kind of standards he should be held to? They shouldn’t be this low. We can’t think of an explanation that somehow lessens the impact of what police have reported happened on Aug. 31.
If the members of the Starpoint school board really do want to resolve this matter “promptly” what exactly are they waiting for?