Campbell school system needs Repasky, Petruska

Last year, in editorializing on the failure of Walter Rusnak, Michael Tsikouris, the Rev. Daniel Rohan and Theodore Cougras to attend a public forum on the employment status of then Treasurer Joseph Sebest, we said, "Members of the Campbell Board of Education can run, but they can't hide."
Today, we offer an amended version of that statement: "Campbell Board of Education members Rusnak and Tsikouris can run -- for re-election, but they can't -- be allowed to win."
With all the controversy that has swirled around the school board, resulting in a dark cloud hanging over the system, we believe it's time to replace those members who seem to have blinders on when it comes to wrongdoing by top administrators.
In 1999, we urged the voters of Campbell to re-elect Karen Repasky, who had established herself as a watchdog on the board, and to elect Sandra Rogers. Instead, the people of Campbell chose Cougras and Rohan.
And so last year, Rohan and Cougras joined with Rusnak and Tsikouris in cutting then Treasurer Sebest's salary from $48,000 to $44,000 -- without providing a thorough explanation -- and then declaring that a vacancy existed after Sebest refused to sign a new contract.
The only board member who publicly denounced this action was Carmel Gerlick. She argued that there was no evaluation conducted on the treasurer's performance.
Standing ovation: It is noteworthy that Gerlick, who received a standing ovation when she showed up for the public forum on the Sebest matter, has chosen not to seek re-election this year. Had she run again, we would not have hesitated to endorse her.
But it isn't just the treasurer controversy generated by the board of education that has led us to conclude that Rusnak and Tsikouris do not deserve another term. Remember the hiring of Frank Fasline as a $200-a-day consultant after his contract as treasurer was not renewed? Fasline was identified by Mafia boss-turned government witness Lenine Strollo as a conduit for organized crime bribes paid to former Campbell Police Chief Charles Xenakis.
Fasline was taped by the FBI having discussions with Strollo about an illegal fund-raising plan for the schools. Campbell Schools Superintendent James Ciccolelli Jr., who failed to properly inform the board about the fund-raising proposal, got away with a nondisciplinary resolution directing him to provide and maintain full information concerning board resolutions. Talk about powder-puff treatment.
Rusnak and Tsikouris are unwavering in their support of Ciccolelli. Tsikouris went so far as to say the board has been "abusing" Ciccolelli by paying him so poorly -- at $72,000 this year.
Endorsement: Thus, in next month's election in which three seats on the board of education are being contested, The Vindicator finds just two of the seven candidates worthy of its endorsement: Repasky, who believes the board should stop its games and concentrate on the education of the children of Campbell; and Diana Petruska, who promises to focus on the proficiency test scores and to hold the superintendent much more accountable for what is going on in the schools.
Petruska is refreshingly honest in her contention that the comparatively low test scores are a reflection of the performance of the teachers. "The kids deserve better than they're getting," she says.
Repasky has a solid record of supporting programs that will enhance learning in the classrooms and her commitment to upgrade the instrument and vocal music programs is to be commended.
Of the remaining three candidates, Jeffrey Opencar and Robert T. Dolan were unimpressive, while Karen Penwell failed to meet with The Vindicator editorial board.