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Spat heats up

County News

Friday, 08 October 2010 14:59

By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor
A recent e-mail blast by an Osceola County School Board member regarding the mental stability of another member has led to some raised eyebrows.
And the School Board chairman is none too happy about it and the conduct of both board members.
Recently re-elected board member Jay Wheeler, who writes weekly personal and School Board updates and sends them to those who sign up for them, earlier this week wrote that board member Cindy Hartig “needs to be under the care of a mental health professional.”
Wheeler further stated Hartig was “mean, unhappy and unbalanced,” and later told a WFTV broadcast news reporter in a segment that aired Tuesday that Hartig was “crazy.”
In his e-mail, Wheeler wrote that Hartig was seeking a public records request of his e-mails from earlier this year and that she was wasting the time of district employees by doing so. He then went on to make the mental health comment.
Hartig, who does not get Wheeler’s weekly e-mail updates, said she found out about the e-mail through several other people.
“I think I would question who really needs help,” she told the News-Gazette Wednesday. “But I’m not going to throw stones. I don’t put stock in what he says. If I let people get to me, I wouldn’t be a successful businessperson.”
Hartig, who is president and CEO of Information Technology & Data Solutions, did say, however, that the comments about her in Wheeler’s e-mail were improper.
“I think it’s very, very inappropriate to say things against other people you work with,” she said.
Hartig said she made the public records request to check Wheeler’s e-mails for material regarding recent ethics and election campaign violations filed against him by Tom Long, who is in a run-off election for another seat on the School Board. The alleged violations involve using campaign money for personal matters and misuse of public position.
Oddly enough, Hartig said, Wheeler some time ago through his attorneys sought her e-mails.
“Everybody knows that when I put something in an e-mail, I leave a paper trail,” she said, adding that she is well aware of the Government in the Sunshine laws, which provide for transparent communications for those who sit on governing boards.
The News-Gazette was recently given a copy of the actual e-mail sent to Wheeler’s followers.
Four paragraphs into the e-mail, Wheeler wrote:
“This past Monday 9/27/10 got a call from Osceola School District Director of Community Relations Dana Schafer. Dana called to inform me that Osceola County School Board member Cindy Hartig made a public records request of my e-mails from January and February 2010. Cindy Hartig has made dozens of public records requests since being elected. No other sitting School Board member here, or so far as I know of in any other county has been the public records requester that Cindy Hartig has been. She routinely wastes people’s time with these frivolous requests. Cindy Hartig is extremely high maintenance for staff, who has way more important things to do than deal with her. Cindy, if you read this let's make it simple. If you want something from me, call me at 407-973-4141 or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I'll happily get you whatever you like. Just don't make district staff be your gophers. While I am not a mental health professional, in my uneducated opinion Cindy Hartig needs to be under the care of a mental health professional. She comes across as mean, unhappy, and unbalanced. I hope Cindy gets the help she needs.”
Hartig said those harsh words may have been the result of a rough day.
“I honestly don’t think Mr. Wheeler meant it … that he was maybe having a bad day,” Hartig said.
But Wheeler would not say he regretted writing what he did about her.
“I regret she’s not getting professional help,” he said.
Wheeler said he wrote what he did because he feels Hartig needs professional help “in my uneducated opinion.”
“She’s been disruptive for no good reason,” he said. “She’s been nothing but a distraction.”
Hartig said, however, she gets along very well with other members of the board.
“I admire and respect all of them. I think we have a very good board,” she said. “Jay and I just need to channel our energies in the right direction.”
Wheeler did say he felt Hartig was “basically a good person,” but that she has changed completely since becoming a member of the School Board.
Hartig was the only candidate who ran unopposed for the district 3 seat in 2008. This came after Wheeler said he asked Hartig to run for the School Board.
“I even sent a letter to the governor encouraging him to appoint Cindy,” he said. “She was a different person then.”
He said that since being on the School Board, Hartig has changed tremendously.
“She’s high maintenance and has to bully people. She’s almost engaged in interrogation tactics,” Wheeler said. “Cindy Hartig thinks there is always a conspiracy and she’s uniquely for something that all are against and she’s uniquely against something that all are for.”
Wheeler paused briefly when asked if Hartig belongs on the School Board.
“I think somebody needs to run in that race and get some votes … she (Hartig) was able to slide in,” Wheeler said.
Although the two board members have trouble agreeing on matters, Wheeler said he is not trying to make it personal.
“I am not out to get her,” he said. “It’s about the School District.”
But School Board Chairman John McKay is out to deal with both of them.
“I am not happy with the conduct of these two board members,” he said Thursday.
McKay indicated that he was recently informed that Hartig interfered in two separate cases between principals and parents and their children and that it was not within her purview as a board member to do such a thing.
“She took it upon herself to direct principals,” McKay said. “Under no circumstances does any board member interject themselves between a principal, a parent and a child. You cannot interfere with the operations of the School District … to me, that’s against the law.”
The chairman also said Wheeler’s e-mail letter and subsequent comment that aired on WFTV were completely uncalled for.
“If it doesn’t stop, this School Board’s going to get a reputation for being dysfunctional,” McKay said. “We are an example for the kids and we are showing them that bullying is acceptable.”
He added, “I am worried sick that all we’ve built up over the last eight years is going to be destroyed because these two individuals won’t stop worrying about their egos,” he said. “And that’s a sad statement.”
McKay said a special workshop has been set for Tuesday at the School Board chambers at 5:30 p.m. to address the conduct of both Hartig and Wheeler. The public can attend.