Board votes to authorize external investigation after motion alleging kickbacks

The Berlin Central School District Board of Education voted to authorize an external investigation after a board member read a resolution alleging "kickback and financial interest by board members" and requesting a full independent inquiry.

The motion as read asked the superintendent to initiate a full investigation into the allegations and to report back to the board and community on completion. The motion was seconded by Kim and the board voted in favor.

"We have nothing to hide. Bring everything out," a board member said after the vote passed, emphasizing the board's stated intention of transparency.

What the resolution does and does not say: the motion requests an independent external auditor or investigator to examine the allegations and report the findings; the transcript records the reading of the allegation language and the board's vote but does not record names of those accused or a detailed factual basis for the claim in the public record provided.

Next steps: the board said it will identify an external auditor and will report a timeline for the investigation to the community once that party is selected. The motion's text was read into the record and will be part of the board's minutes; staff said they will provide a timeline for the community later.