An alleged dance on a board of education (BOE) conference table was the subject of a heated back-and-forth between board members and two members of the public last week.

It was another episode in what has become a recurring series of testy interactions between board representatives and BOE audiences, many of them heavily comprised of school employees.

In June, board member Lou Venezia was nearly jeered when he referred to a resident by her first name, and at the meeting prior a number of school employees made derisive comments about the board from their audience seats.

The subject of the alleged conference table dance arose during the board’s July 15 meeting when resident Maureen Chauncey asked board member Rachel Park whether she had danced on a table following a special June 26 board meeting. According to two school employees, Park danced on the table and a chair in the conference room after voting to rescind the superintendent’s new contract, which the previous BOE had ratified only weeks earlier.

Joseph Lopez, who joined the BOE in April with Park, immediately castigated Chauncey (see video below).

"We’re not here to talk about rumors or gossip," said Lopez. "I’m not going to engage in these smear tactics."

Lopez added, "These kind of rumors do not benefit our children…I’m sure you enjoy (rumors)," a crack that elicited a few gasps from audience members.

Laura Curcio, the BOE vice president (and acting chair for the meeting), asked Lopez to let Chauncey speak, after which Chauncey asked again whether anyone on the board could confirm the story of Park’s alleged dance. She had a tense exchange with Curcio that ended when Curcio asked Chauncey to "take the high road" and talk with Park privately about the matter.

The conversation continued with high school teacher Brandon Doemling, who told Bloomfield Life three weeks ago that he had witnessed the alleged dance. Doemling had videotaped the June 26 meeting for the local television station and was packing up video equipment when he saw Park dance on the table, he told Bloomfield Life.

After Chauncey’s argument with Lopez during last week’s meeting, Doemling approached the podium and reiterated his story that he saw the alleged dance "with my own eyes" (see video below). He added that the conference table broke due to Park’s actions, which he said was witnessed by Lopez and fellow board member Lou Venezia.

"Now, are you going to tell me that did not happen?" Doemling asked.

Park, who had remained silent until this point, said she was not going to talk about the alleged dance.

"I think that we need to elevate the level of discourse in this town," she said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Doemling responded, "Are you saying, Ms. Park, that I am lying?"

Immediately following Doemling’s remark, a piercing blast of feedback emanated from the sound equipment in the room, and Doemling helped Michael Derderian, the business administrator, correct the problem.

The argument soon began anew, however, with Doemling claiming that Park’s alleged dance was "disrespectful of the parents, of the staff, of this administration and of the people in this town." The discussion is about character, he added.

Lopez then entered the fray again, claiming it was "inaccurate" to say he had witnessed Park’s alleged dance. Though he was in the room, he did not witness a dance, Lopez said.

Doemling pointed to areas in the room where he claimed Lopez, Park and Venezia were standing during the alleged dance. It would have been impossible for Lopez not to have seen it, Doemling said.

"I am suggesting, Mr. Lopez, that you are lying," he said before returning to his seat.

Lopez responded, "And I tell you that you're a liar."

It was the last dance-related discussion of the evening.