An event meant to thank two lawmakers who helped bring a $14 million bailout to the Roosevelt School District turned into a fight between school officials and a clergyman Thursday.

The district called together a conference for students to read letters of thanks to Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper and State Sen. Charles Fuschillo.

Fuschillo attended the event for a short period of time before he had to leave, but Hooper did not show. Baptist leader Rev. Phillip E. Elliot began yelling at school officials, accusing them of not inviting Hooper to the event. He says the school district was trying to denigrate the lawmaker?s efforts.

Superintendent Robert Wayne Harris says both Hooper and Fuschillo were invited to the event. He emphasized to Elliot that the event was supposed to be about the students, who were seated around the room during the dust up. Elliot stormed out of the event soon after.

Harris called the display an embarrassment.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has until Tuesday, Jan. 29 to approve the bailout money. Spitzer told News 12 Long Island the plan seems to make sense but asked how a school district gets to the point where it needs a bailout to begin with.

Calls to Hooper?s office were not returned.

Related Information: Multi-billion bailout for Roosevelt finally approved