« Renaissance School Kids Evacuated | Main | Ratables For Montclair? »

Bloomfield BOE Employment Disputes: Out But Not Over

Friday, May 16, 2008

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.

Posted by Annette Batson on May 16, 2008 1:07 PM
Email this story |
 

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!

Posted by Basile | May 16, 2008 1:53 PM
 

I think its time a few of them move on, an assistant to the assistant of seems to be a few layers too many.

Posted by hrhppg | May 16, 2008 2:37 PM
 

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.

Posted by Surrounded | May 16, 2008 2:38 PM
 

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.

Posted by Pork Roll | May 16, 2008 2:39 PM
 

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.

Posted by Surrounded | May 16, 2008 2:44 PM
 

The comment about the South End supporting the budget chapped my butt too Surrounded. I took it as a poor attempt at liberal guilt.

Posted by hrhppg | May 16, 2008 2:48 PM
 

hrhppg: Please unblock your private messages, here. (they REALLY are useful) I'd like to ask you a quick question.

Posted by Surrounded | May 16, 2008 4:55 PM
 

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.

Posted by Basile | May 16, 2008 4:58 PM
 

It was one hell of a meeting.

Surrounded (HAHA, as long as you private message hrhppg and not deepspace, you should be ok!!).

Posted by VNC | May 16, 2008 5:02 PM
 

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!!

Posted by hidinginb-ville | May 18, 2008 3:45 PM
 

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!!

Posted by hidinginb-ville | May 18, 2008 3:46 PM
 
You must log into Vbulletin to post Comments. Log in below.

Not Registered? Click Here to register.

Carol Tangorra for all your real estate needs

Joe Bartoni's

Your Color Source








Weather
Movies
TV

Gmail
NJ Transit
DeCamp
People Search
Google Maps
Dictionary
Google News
Homeland Security
Essex County News
High School Sports
» MONTCLAIR LINKS
ABOUT
Official Montclair Website
Montclair Center
Montclair Schools
Montclair Community Pre-K
Montclair State University
American Towns
Town Profile
THE ARTS
Arts Montclair
Montclair Art Museum
Montclair Arts Council
Peak Performances
ATTRACTIONS
New Jersey Jackals
Presby Iris Gardens
Van Vleck Gardens
COMMUNITY
Montclair Adult School
Montclair Public Library
Montclair YMCA
Mountainside Health Foundation
Red Cross
Toni's Kitchen
COMMUTING
The Clever Commute
Montclair-Boonton Line Train Schedule
FORUMS/BLOGS
Montclair Journal
Montclair Watercooler
Montclair Unmoderated
NJ.com Montclair Forum
ORGANIZATIONS
Bike Montclair
Friends of Anderson Park
League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area
MEWS
Montclair Engineers
MFEE/Montclair Reads
Montclair Fund for Women
Montclair Historical Society
Montclair PTA
Montclair Wildlife
Outpost in the Burbs
OTHER
New Jersey Life and Leisure
VillageRadio

» GLEN RIDGE LINKS
» BLOOMFIELD LINKS
» OUTER BARISTAVILLE
» OF INTEREST BLOGS
BARISTAS
Read Me, Love Me, Buy the Book
stopkatie.com
ARTISTS

Artisan Studio Underground
Artist / Blacksmith Charlie Spademan
Dust and Rust
habit-image-reaction
I Will Kick Your Ass For World Peace
CULTURE
La Tertulia
FOOD
Cat Food
Chowhound
Hungry Chef
Mano a Vino
Table Hopping with Rosie
FORUMS
E-gullet NJ
Springsteen Forum
GARDENING
The Gardeners Apprentice
The Gardening Guru
GO GREEN
Reuse and Recycle in Montclair
HEALTH
Medicana
NEW JERSEY
Bada Bing Blog
Blog Net News NJ
Jersey Side
NJ.com
NJHotShots
NJ My Way
Weird NJ
OF USE
Craig's List NJ
PetFinder
Urban Dictionary
PARENTING
Dante's Inferno with Children
FinSlippy
Looky Daddy
The Mamahood
Raisinology
Who's the Grown Up?
PERSONAL
55 Secret Street
Anovelista
CarreFemme
The Daily Doormatt
Detox Moxie
Inclusive Ceremonies
Martta's World
Maui Girl's Meanderings
The Media Drop
Meg McGonagall
MOM & Pop Culture
My Life as a Rabid Blog
Tina Bell
Snake Oil Sam
The Society for Conscious Craft
Yenta Diva
POLITICAL
The Green Line
Gold Finch Tech
New Jersey Politics Unusual
REAL ESTATE
Crystal Ball Real Estate
Eco Realty
TECHNOLOGY
We Give Good Tech

Email us to link your blog