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.
Comments (11)
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!
I think its time a few of them move on, an assistant to the assistant of seems to be a few layers too many.
Not all of the "south end" supported the budget. I didn't (for my 1st time - ever) and neither did my uninformed neighbors, after I informed them.
I am entirely unimpressed by Joseph Lopez, and his little stunt with the motion to abolish the assistant superintendent's position strikes me as being just that: a foolish, desparate stunt to make bones for being some sort of fiscally-responsible watchdog.
The issues of whether the assistant superintendent position is necessary, or whether the person filing the position is the proper person to do so are irrelevant right now. That decision should not be taken in such a knee-jerk fashion.
Digesere is right about one thing: he should not be micromanaged. Regardless of whom the board "thinks" they represent, they are a policy-making board, not a management committee. While the board has a lawful oversight responsibility over district operations, they basically need to give Digesere the tools to do his job, and then get out of his way.
Looks like the three-ring circus has picked their tent stakes from Montclair and planted them in Bloomfield.
Pork Roll: I disagree. The BOE is *a management committee*. And it's the mismanagement of funds which has, more than, helped to put us in this fiasco.
The comment about the South End supporting the budget chapped my butt too Surrounded. I took it as a poor attempt at liberal guilt.
hrhppg: Please unblock your private messages, here. (they REALLY are useful) I'd like to ask you a quick question.
HRH & Surrounded - I know people who were in the room. That's what MG said about the South. She also said something about being sick and tired of the north side people who come to meetings and speak up at the microphone. She went so far as to say she wanted to start up a south side coalition (!?) so the south would be taken seriously. She presumes to speak for "the south" I guess.
It was one hell of a meeting.
Surrounded (HAHA, as long as you private message hrhppg and not deepspace, you should be ok!!).
Gee it isn't to obvious, if the assistant super position is abolished so is MG's job--of course she's going to fight like crazy but her comments were showed a pathetic level of desperation, lack of education & class that I don't think she's fit to represent the 2nd highest administrtor in our district--imagine her having to deal w/high level administrators from other districts? Oy!!
Gee it isn't to obvious, if the assistant super position is abolished so is MG's job--of course she's going to fight like crazy but her comments were showed a pathetic level of desperation, lack of education & class that I don't think she's fit to represent the 2nd highest administrtor in our district--imagine her having to deal w/high level administrators from other districts? Oy!!