NEW CASTLE SCHOOLS Board docks pay of superintendent

Some residents called for the superintendent's resignation.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The city school board decided to dock one month's salary from the schools superintendent as a sanction for supplying interview questions and suggested answers to a school business administrator candidate.
School Superintendent George Gabriel agreed to the penalty at Wednesday's school board meeting. The board also formally fired the man who received those questions and answers.
"I accept and respect your decision," Gabriel said to the school board. The sanction takes effect immediately. Gabriel earns an annual salary of $102,382.
Before the decision was handed down, some audience members called for Gabriel's resignation, while others criticized the school board for allowing the situation to happen.
Audience members also referred to a recent report by the Pennsylvania auditor general outlining problems with the district's assistant superintendent and travel plans he made for board members to a convention that required them to have play time at a casino in exchange for free hotel rooms.
Ready for a change
"It is time for residents to put their vote to good use this November and clean house," said Carmen Rozzi of New Castle.
Resident Mary Ellen Jessel told board members that she plans to look closely at each school board candidate in this next election. "We must bring integrity back," she said.
But a teacher and a school administrator voiced support for Gabriel and praised him for his leadership.
"He is a responsible, motivated and dedicated professional," said Angela Joseph, a district teacher, who is also the wife of school board member Allan Joseph.
School Solicitor Charles Sapienza said school board members have been grappling over an appropriate sanction since last month. One school board member called for Gabriel to resign, but it was later determined he could not be dismissed under school code, the solicitor said.
Sapienza said no district employee has ever been docked pay as a sanction by the school board, but the solicitor said he believes it is legal as long as Gabriel agrees.
"The public's trust is in question and as a board, we must work to remedy this situation," said board member Peter Yerage after the vote was taken.
Admitted helping candidate
Gabriel admitted that he gave interview questions and suggested answers to the district's former business manager Roger Havey when Havey interviewed for the job in November 2002.
The board decided last month to terminate Havey after it determined he altered an Act 34 Clearance, a document required by all school districts that outlines an employee's criminal background.
Havey contended he altered the document to not show a theft conviction from 1990 at Gabriel's request. Gabriel denies that he asked Havey to change the document.
Havey and Gabriel did agree and testified that Gabriel supplied Havey with questions and suggested answers for his interview with the school board last year before he was hired as business manager.
Gabriel said he gave Havey the questions and suggested answers because Havey was apprehensive about the interview.
Board members agreed last month to terminate Havey, and he was formally fired at Wednesday's meeting.