SCHOOLS Board meeting ends in abrupt adjournment

The board agreed to work with the Ohio School Boards Association to find a new superintendent.
CAMPBELL -- Supporters of outgoing schools Superintendent James Ciccolelli packed the board of education meeting Tuesday night, calling for the board to reconsider its vote not to renew his contract.
But the majority of the board refused to reconsider its decision to search for a replacement for Ciccolelli, who has led the district for 12 years.
The meeting, marked by catcalls and signs of support for Ciccolelli, was attended by more than 100 people. Five people from the audience came to the microphone to voice support for Ciccolelli when the meeting ended abruptly.
Board President Diana Petruska adjourned it when speaker Marco Torres raised questions about board member Dominic Medina's involvement with a civil service test several years ago.
"This is shady," Torres said, holding up a flier that was circulated before the meeting in the cafeteria at Memorial High School.
Petruska told Torres that a court, not a board meeting, was the proper place to discuss such a document. When Torres didn't let up, Petruska gaveled the meeting closed and walked out.
She was followed by board Vice President Karen Repasky. The other three board members -- Medina, Beth Donofrio and Robert Dolan -- remained seated.
"It ended as it should have by law," Repasky said after the meeting. "We were at a public session and people have to be under control. People can't get up and yell things and say derogatory remarks.
"He [Torres] was warned three times to drop it or the meeting would be adjourned. And she [Petruska] has a right to."
About Ciccolelli
Before the walkout, board members Dolan and Donofrio and speakers from the audience urged the board to retain Ciccolelli.
Dolan made a motion that the board offer Ciccolelli the option to retire, as they have with some other teachers and administrators, then hire him back at a lesser salary. His health care benefits would be covered under the state's teacher retirement system, allowing the district to recoup more savings.
"We could realize a savings of $30,000 and save the expense of a search -- about $40,000 -- and build confidence with the public to get this millage renewal passed in May," Dolan said.
The motion, supported by Donofrio, failed by a 3-2 vote. Petruska, Repasky and Medina opposed it and declined to say why.
The first speaker to address the board, Stella Opencar, asked the board members who voted against Dolan's motion why they would not consider it.
Repasky said such a proposal should be discussed behind closed doors, as was the case in considering similar arrangements with teachers and administrators.
Petruska's reasons
Opencar asked Petruska to elaborate on her reasons for failing to renew Ciccolelli's contract. She said the board has been "left in the dark on issues."
"I think the district will be better off with a new leader," she said.
For instance, she said she has not received adequate updates from Ciccolelli on budget matters, such as the contract renewal of Treasurer Patricia McLaughlin.
Responded Ciccolelli, "I do not employ the treasurer, evaluate the treasurer or am I responsible for the treasurer. The board of education does."
The board voted 3-2 last month not to extend Ciccolelli's $85,931 contract, which expires July 31. At the time, Petruska said the board was "looking to go in another direction," but declined to elaborate.
Repasky and Medina joined Petruska last month in voting against renewing Ciccolelli's contract. Dolan and Donofrio supported an extension.
The February vote came after the board last year decided against renewing Ciccolelli's contract, essentially putting him on notice that he should look for employment elsewhere.
Ciccolelli, 55, said he plans to serve out the remainder of his contract, then look for another job in the education field.
In a 3-2 vote, with Dolan and Donofrio dissenting, the board agreed to spend between $5,900 and $8,900 to work with the Ohio School Boards Association to launch a search for superintendent candidates.