East Williston teacher’s settlement talks continue

Negotiations between the East Williston School District and teacher Matthew Haig continued Wednesday morning as more than 40 of Haig’s supporters waited for disciplinary hearings to start.
Lawyers for both sides picked up talks at the Wheatley School on Wednesday to try and resolve Haig’s case after agreeing to a framework for a settlement on July 12. “But I don’t think one’s going to happen,” said Matthew Costello, Haig’s attorney.
Haig’s public disciplinary hearing was to start if he and the district could not reach an agreement, but it had not begun as of Blank Slate Media’s deadline on Wednesday afternoon.
Haig, a 30-year Wheatley School social studies teacher who has been suspended with pay since April, said the district reneged on some terms to which both sides had agreed, but he declined to elaborate on what they were.
Kelly Reape, an attorney for the school district, declined to discuss the negotiations.
The East Williston school board president, Mark Kamberg, said the two sides never came to a formal agreement and only agreed to continue negotiations, “so there’s nothing to renege on.”
“They’re having a discussion. They’re in settlement talks,” Kamberg said in a phone interview. “Settlement talks are give and take.”
Attorneys for the school district and Haig communicated informally after their talks last month but did not meet in person to continue negotiations, Costello said. Kamberg confirmed that they had not met.
Haig and the district had previously discussed a letter of reprimand being placed in his personnel file to which he could respond. They were also negotiating whether Haig would serve a paid suspension in addition to the time he has already been suspended.
The district is seeking Haig’s termination on charges of insubordination, neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming a teacher, stemming from incidents in which he physically touched students and discussed his personal life in class after being told not to do so. The district also alleges he failed to keep proper track of textbooks and submit weekly lesson plans to administrators.
Haig’s suspension caused an outcry among current students, parents and alumni of the Wheatley School, who say the school district has unfairly targeted him. The district cannot legally discuss the details of his case but says it protects teachers’ due process rights and is obligated to respond to all concerns brought to its attention.
Stuart Bauchner, the independent hearing officer in Haig’s case, shuttled between the separate rooms where Haig and the district were discussing settlement terms.
A crowd of  Haig’s current and former students, as well as Wheatley teachers and parents, waited in the room where hearings were to be held. Most wore red to show support; some wore bow ties, Haig’s signature accessory. Haig talked with them between settlement discussions with Costello.
At one point, Haig called some of his allies into the room — including Wes Berkowitz, a retired Wheatley guidance counselor and close friend of Haig; Jesse Manor, a 2011 Wheatley graduate who has been one of Haig’s most ardent supporters and one of the school district’s loudest critics; David Israel, a retired teacher who led the district’s teachers union for 37 years; andMichael Haig, Matthew’s brother, who also teaches at Wheatley.
Wheatley students and alumni have said Haig’s boisterous, unconventional teaching style helped him get through to students and inspire them.
The action the district has taken against Haig might make some teachers hesitate to use such methods, said Adam Plana, a 20-year physics teacher at the school.
“We’re hoping that we can get back to business, that Matt Haig can get back to business and do what he loves to do and affect children in a positive way,” Plana said.