GIRARD SCHOOLS Interim chief rejects probe idea

Girard's interim school superintendent says he's not trained to conduct an investigation.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The interim city schools superintendent has decided not to conduct an internal investigation of his predecessor, at least for now.
Superintendent Marty Santillo said Thursday he was asked by school board lawyer Bruce A. Zaccagnini of Cleveland if it would be possible to conduct a probe surrounding the activities of former Superintendent Joseph Shoaf.
A police investigation of Shoaf has resulted in his indictment by a Trumbull County grand jury on two counts of corrupting another with drugs and one count each of intimidating a victim, possession of cocaine and trafficking in cocaine. He is accused of using cocaine in his office with a high school student.
Shoaf, 36, of Cortland, resigned May 10 after police searched his office, and Santillo replaced him. The school board will interview candidates next Tuesday and Friday to permanently fill the position.
Letter
Santillo said Zaccagnini wrote him a letter asking if it were possible for him to conduct his own internal probe of Shoaf.
Santillo said he went to police and county prosecutor Dennis Watkins concerning the case.
"I'm confident they've done a thorough job," Santillo said. "He [Watkins] was pretty confident all the bases were covered."
Besides, Santillo noted, no other allegations in the case have surfaced. In addition, he said, "I'm not trained to do that."
However, Santillo said he would conduct an investigation if other allegations surfaced.
Zaccagnini declined to comment Thursday because of his client-attorney relationship with the board.
He did say that he thinks the police and prosecutor have done "an excellent job" in their investigation.
In the school board's interest
Police Capt. Frank Bigowsky recalled that after Santillo took over as interim superintendent May 16 and after a 10-day vacation, Santillo asked him about the Shoaf investigation because of Zaccagnini's letter.
"He [Santillo] wanted to be brought up to speed," Bigowsky said. "He was satisfied with what we had done."
When asked why he believes Zaccagnini was interested in a superintendent's probe, Bigowsky responded, "I'm sure he's looking out for the best interest of the school board," the captain responded.
If an investigation by Santillo is warranted, Bigowsky said, that's up to school officials and not the police.
Bigowsky pointed out that at one point Zaccagnini had a close view of the police investigation, having been present when Shoaf's office was searched and when he was initially interviewed.
yovich@vindy.com