Starpoint CSD BOE Votes for Chief Inspector Charged with DWI to Get Job Back

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) – A school superintendent officially has his job back two months after he was charged with a DWI.

The Starpoint Board of Education voted Monday night to reinstate Dr. Sean Croft.

On August 31, Croft crashed into a tree in West Seneca.

Responding officers claim he showed signs of intoxication and failed field sobriety tests.

The following week, the board placed him on administrative leave.

I was at the evening meeting where the board decided to bring Croft back from administrative leave.

Starpoint CSD BOE President Jeffrey Duncan said, “Starpoint Central School District Board of Education announces tonight that Dr. Sean Croft will resume his responsibilities as superintendent with the full support of the board.”

The meeting lasted about seven minutes.

The board immediately afterwards went into a board meeting.

Board Chairman Jeffrey Duncan announced on behalf of the board that the decision to reappoint the Superintendent was carefully considered given his long-standing dedication and positive contributions to the community.

Duncan was asked for an on-camera interview, but he emphasized that releasing a statement would make him more at ease.

The BOE’s full statement reads:

The Starpoint Central School District Board of Education announced today that Dr. Sean Croft will resume his responsibilities as Superintendent with the full support of the Board.

The board made this decision after careful consideration and reflection, weighing the seriousness of the incident against Dr.’s long-standing dedication and positive contributions. Croft to this school community.

From our conversations with Dr. Croft clearly shows that he has taken responsibility for his actions and has demonstrated his commitment to personal growth.

To support our shared goals and ensure accountability, Dr. Croft agreed to sign a revised contract approved by the Board of Directors.

Our unanimous decision today is rooted in the confidence that Dr. Croft can continue its progress and uphold our values with continued meaningful action.

Dr. Croft returns to work on November 14.

Duncan said, “To support our shared goals and shared responsibility, the board has revised Dr. Croft’s contract. We expect the board to approve these contract revisions later in this meeting.”

Dr. Croft was initially arrested on the DWI charge just days before the start of the school year.

A district employee called the alleged drunk driving a “mistake.”

“It would have been a shame if they let someone go because of a mistake, but it’s still a mistake. We tell our children that if you make a mistake, you will be forgiven and that you work to not do it again to do,” says Starpoint CSD Special. Program Department Diane Martineau said.

Diane Martineau works in the district’s special programs department.

She said it would be nice to have Dr. Croft back, citing that he has led the district through many crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think it will be a big morale booster because the unknown was difficult and not knowing what was going on,” Martineau said. “Ms. Maureen Braunscheidel did a fantastic job in his absence.”

Only four people attended Monday night’s board meeting.

However, in September I attended the school board meeting where more than a dozen staff members and parents were present and shared their views on whether he should retain his role as superintendent. That story could be found here.

Dr. Croft will return to work on November 14, just two days after his November 12 date in Erie County Court on a DWI charge.