Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Campbell received $150,000 to transform a classroom into a tech lab.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CAMPBELL -- "Look me in the eye and promise me that you have my best interest at heart," pleaded Kortney Opencar, a fifth-grader at Campbell Elementary/Middle School, before the school board failed to renew the contract of Superintendent James A. Ciccolelli for a second time.
Kortney shared the microphone with her sister, Kassandra, also a fifth-grader at the school, who pointed out that she will have to live with the decision they make and asked them not to jeopardize her education.
After numerous remarks from the audience -- all asking board members to reconsider their decision at last month's board meeting to turn down a resolution to renew the superintendent's contract, or noting the progress the school district has made under his leadership -- the board again failed to support a contract for Ciccolelli.
When pact expires
The superintendent's current contract expires July 31, 2005.
Board President Robert Dolan, as he did at the last board meeting, made a motion to extend Ciccolelli's contract. This time, the motion was to extend the superintendent's contract for four years, last month's proposal was for a five-year extension.
Beth Donofrio seconded the motion and, like the last meeting, she and Dolan were the only board members voting in favor of the resolution.
Karen Repasky, who was absent last month, voted against the renewal along with Diana Petruska.
Repasky has said that she opposes renewing Ciccolelli's contract because she wants to have a superintendent from outside the community. Having a Campbell native like Ciccolelli run the schools creates a problem with nepotism, she said. Petruska has only said that she doesn't believe Ciccolelli is the best person for the Campbell school district.
Dominic Medina abstained, to jeers from the crowd of more than 200 who shouted, "C'mon, Dominic. Make a decision. Do the right thing."
Later, Medina said he could not support renewal of the superintendent's contract because he hadn't evaluated his performance. At last month's meeting, Medina voted against renewing the contract.
What happens next is unclear.
Ciccolelli said that without majority support, his contract will expire. The only board members who could reintroduce a resolution to extend his contract, he added, are those who voted against it.
If the issue were re-introduced and the board voted to extend his contract, Ciccolelli said: "I would love to stay. My heart is in this district. I have two children in Campbell schools. I have unfinished projects that I want to complete."
Working without complete support from the board, he said, wouldn't be a problem. "I've been fighting controversy for the last 11 years -- since I've been superintendent."
However, Ciccolelli said that he has interviewed with other districts and, at this point, would accept an offer from another school district if one were presented to him.
Grant
Earlier in the meeting, the superintendent announced that Campbell schools recently received a $150,000 grant through the county vocational school to transform one of the classrooms in the high school into a modular technology lab. The lab will serve all subject areas and will have mobile units that teachers can use in their individual classrooms.
In other business, the board approved:
URetirement resignations of Judith A. Patellis, a teacher at Campbell Elementary/Middle School, and Margaret Stephens, guidance counselor at the high school, both effective July 1.
U88 seniors eligible for graduation June 3.
kubik@vindy.com