SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR FIRED OVER ARREST ON DRUG CHARGES

OSWEGO - A local school board voted unanimously to fire an assistant
school superintendent who was arrested on drug charges.

The seven-member Oswego City School District Board of Education
charged that Daniel J. Harmony, a 29-year district employee, had
"engaged in conduct seriously prejudicial to the district in violation
of his employment contract."

Harmony was fired Tuesday night following a 2 1/2-hour closed door
meeting with the board, at which he and his lawyer presented his case.
He had no comment after the meeting.

Harmony, 51, was arrested in September after investigators found a
package containing about a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine, a
powerful stimulant, at his town of Oswego home. The district suspended
him with pay.

In November, Harmony pleaded guilty to felony attempted possession of
a controlled substance and agreed to enter a county-supervised drug
rehabilitation program.

Board members said the drug conviction interfered with Harmony's
ability to perform his duties as business manager, act as a role model
or serve as a hearing officer on student disciplinary cases.

The board also alleged Harmony's actions "compromised the credibility
of the district's position on substance abuse matters" and that
negative reactions in the community had disrupted district operations.

Harmony was named assistant superintendent for business in 2001 and
also had been a teacher, assistant high school principal and
technology specialist during his career with the district.