Bloomfield superintendent of schools, Frank Digesere, must feel like he's playing with a bad deck of cards. At this week's heated BOE meeting, where we hear fireworks went off, The Board of Ed voted against Digesere's recommendation to renew Gina Verni's employment contract, whose professional experience recently came under scrutiny. From Bloomfield Life:
Frank Digesere, the superintendent, blasted the move, saying the board had "handcuffed" the district's attempts to raise special education test scores. Before the board's vote, he threatened to report the BOE to state officials."I am not going to be micromanaged," he said.
Adding to the controversy was discussion over the proposed hiring of an assistant superintendent.
According to the Independent Press, Joseph Lopez, new board
member, "made a motion at Tuesday night's meeting to abolish the position of assistant superintendent, currently held by Marie Cirasella, sparking a heated debate among board members."
Bloomfield tipster shares a spectator's perspective of what went down...
Councilwoman Pat Ritchings discussed the council's proposed cuts to the defeated BOE budget. Joe Lopez, in what he said was a reaction to concerns brought to him by the residents while he was campaigning, motioned that the position of assistant superintendent of schools be abolished. Lopez explained that in reaction to the recent 11th hour contracts entered into between the previous board of ed members and both the superintendent and assistant superintendent, voters refused to approve the proposed 2008-09 school budget.The superintendent was outraged at the suggestion. He spoke at length and "emotionally" about having made it clear to the board (when he was hired) that he wanted an assistant superintendent on staff. He explained that he doesn't need the salary from this job, and said that he would "move on" if the assistant position was abolished.
During this interlude, Lopez and the superintendent entered a heated debate over who a board member "represents".... the children, the public, the taxpayers....
His reaction became more heated, stating he would contact "Trenton" and have additional board members appointed, prompting board member Lou Venezia to ask the superintendent not to take such a threatening tone.
At one point, an audience member shouted "You're out of line!" And Digesere replied that he was not.
During "hearing of the public" one told Lopez "you don't represent me" and mocked his position on the board stating "you ran unopposed." There were further accusations that the south end of town is disenfranchised by the board, because "the south end supported the budget" (which failed in the town-wide vote). President Tony Petrillo attempted to regain order and finally declared that he wanted the motion tabled.
The board will reconvene for a vote at the next council meeting, on May 27.
Another bit of information: The woman who was so enraged with Lopez for wanting to abolish the job title 'assistant superintendent' happens to be the secretary to (who else?) the assistant superintendent!