NILES SCHOOLS Superintendent to maintain personnel

The superintendent says he won't swap high school and middle school principals.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Even if the board of education doesn't extend Mark Pallante's contract as high school principal, he'll remain an administrator in the district for two years.
More than likely, he'll retain his current post as long as Superintendent Rocco Adduci is assigning principals.
The contract issue surfaced Jan. 12 during the board's first meeting of the new year when Adduci placed the three-year extension of Pallante's contract on the agenda.
Adduci had earlier considered moving Pallante to become principal of the middle school and transferring Robert Marino Jr., principal at the middle school, to the high school.
Adduci, however, changed his mind.
When the contract came up for a vote to retain Pallante at the high school, board members Marlene Rhodes and Wanda Burns voted to table the issue.
A new board member, Susan Gianetti Longacre, and John Tricomi voted against tabling, while another new member, Robert Marino Sr., abstained because of a conflict of interest since his son is involved.
Marino Sr. declined to comment when asked if he was supporting his son to become high school principal. His son also is Niles City Council president.
Because of the tie vote, some believed that Pallante would be out of a job next year.
State law
State law requires that a school board vote on an administrator's contract by March 31 of the year the contract expires; such is the case with Pallante's contract.
According to state law, if the board doesn't renew an administrator's contract, there is an automatic two-year extension or rollover.
Because the vote was a tie, it wasn't defeated, and the extension by state law prevails if no action is taken during the next two months. In effect, a tie vote is as if no vote were taken.
State law says that a superintendent has "transfer rights" and can move an administrator to an equal or better position within the district.
"I asked the board to approve a three-year contract [for Pallante]. In my opinion, at this point, that is the best decision for the school district and our community," Adduci said.
Burns said the only way Pallante can remain in the district for less than two years is if he is given a one-time, one-year contract.
Only a superintendent can recommend a one-year agreement.
Burns and Rhodes both say they voted to table the contract question because they weren't given enough time to consider it.
Both noted they haven't received any negative comments about Pallante from school employees or parents.
"The board hasn't had an opportunity to meet in executive session to discuss it," Rhodes said.
Longacre said she voted in favor of the contract because she is a new board member and doesn't yet have the experience to question Adduci.
"I rely on his judgment. I have confidence in him," Longacre said.
Pallante has hired Atty. Christopher Shaker to represent him.
"We're comfortable with our legal position that he'll remain as principal," Shaker said, although he wouldn't elaborate.
He explained that because of an Ohio School Boards Association's decision, Marino Sr. cannot change his mind and vote on Pallante's contract.
What's more, Shaker asserted, Marino can't even discuss his opinion in executive session.
The elder Marino said he agrees with Shaker's position.
yovich@vindy.com