MASSENA – Massena Central School is facing an appeal in a case of charges from a district resident.

The district’s attorney in the matter said it is timed to have an effect on the upcoming budget and school board election.

The district received notice Friday that Robin Wolpin had filed an appeal with the New York State Education Department alleging the district and Superintendent Roger Clough, II had violated the state’s open meeting law, used district funds to pay Clough’s personal legal expenses, and mismanaged the district.

The 95-page notice is a compilation of items such as newspaper clippings, photocopied sections from New York State school law and its interpretation, district correspondence, and a copy results from the Massena Federation of Teachers’ recent survey.

Attorney Frank W. Miller, representing the district, said “The District acknowledges that it has been served with a Notice of Petition by Robin Wolpin concerning an appeal to the New York State Education Department Commissioner. The petition makes various grossly inaccurate and insubstantial allegations against the superintendent and the district.”

Wolpin’s statement continued, “The petition is suspiciously timed in that it is believed that its intention is to draw negative media attention upon the school district and its superintendent immediately before the May 15 board election and budget vote. The claims asserted are without merit and we believe they will be dismissed and the district the superintendent will be vindicated.