NILES SCHOOLS Board rescinds offer to Adduci
Rescinding the job offer also resolves a grievance filed by the teachers union.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Calling himself "an overzealous board member," John H. Davis issued a public apology during a special board of education meeting.
In a prepared three-page statement, the board president outlined Thursday why he believed there was a need for an assistant superintendent in the school district and admitted to bad judgment and timing that led the board to rescind its actions from a previous meeting.
"As a result of my disdain for state control of our school system, I allowed the logic and the need for a proactive administrator to cloud my judgment on timing," he said.
Davis said he acted on faith that all five board members agreed that a "proactive administrator" was needed in the district. He said he first contacted Rocco Adduci, Weathersfield Local Schools superintendent, when he heard rumors that current Superintendent Patrick N. Guliano planned to submit his resignation.
"I am not suggesting that the level of detail was extensive, but it should have been expected that contact would be made," Davis said.
Davis said he "ran ahead of myself," and apologized to the board.
Davis' statement came just moments after the board unanimously agreed to rescind the offer of the administrative position to Adduci, who announced this week he plans to remain at the helm for Weathersfield schools.
Members voted 3-2 Monday to offer Adduci the position, but took action without first getting a recommendation from the current superintendent, as is required by law.
Davis noted during the Thursday meeting that had the vote been 4-1, it would have overridden the need for a recommendation from Guliano. But officials from the Ohio School Board Association have said the law states boards can only use a three-fourths vote to re-employ an administrator without the recommendation of a superintendent.
What resulted
The resolution passed Thursday states the board acknowledges that Adduci is no longer interested in serving as an assistant superintendent in the district, nor can the position be filled as indicated by its Monday vote.
"The board encourages Mr. Adduci and all qualified applicants to apply for the position of superintendent of schools when the process to fill that position begins," the resolution reads.
Rescinding the job offer and agreeing not to fill that position, and waiting to replace Guliano when he leaves the post effective July 31, also allowed the board to grant a request for relief from a grievance filed earlier this week by the district's teachers union.
The union alleged the board violated the master contract between the two sides by offering the position to Adduci without first posting it internally, accepting applications or granting interviews.
The union had asked the board to rescind the offer to Adduci in its relief request.
slshaulis@vindy.com