Friday, November 21, 2008 11:03 AM EST
Augeri to lead school system
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The former superintendent will fill the breach while the Westerly board searches for a permanent chief.
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 Augeri will fill breach while school board searches for permanent chief. |
WESTERLY — At its first meeting, the newly elected School Committee has appointed former Westerly schools chief Salvatore J. Augeri to serve as the district’s interim superintendent.
Augeri, a Westerly superintendent in the 1980s and the high school football field’s namesake, was unanimously selected after the board privately deliberated in executive session Wednesday night.
Augeri is expected to begin Jan. 1, although board Chairman James Murano Jr. said Augeri will likely work with retiring Schools Superintendent Thomas DiPaola prior to that time for a smooth transition.
Augeri currently acts as an education consultant for school districts and firms. He is expected to head the Westerly district while the School Committee conducts a search for a permanent superintendent.
The board is currently awaiting bids in response for a request for proposal for a consultant. DiPaola said he expected the New England School Development Council, the firm that assisted with the district’s last superintendent search, to submit a bid by the Nov. 26 deadline.
Murano said the board considered four candidates, including Augeri, for the interim position. The board received five applications total, he said.
Augeri’s compensation had not been finalized Wednesday.
“[Schools Solicitor William] Nardone and myself will sit down and work out the terms of his employment,” Murano said, adding the salary will be made public thereafter.
Murano added of the board’s selection, “I think he’s the perfect fit for what we need right now.”
“Mr. Augeri brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a superintendent,” he said. Augeri headed Westerly schools from 1980 to 1990 and worked as an administrative assistant to the superintendent, Westerly High School assistant principal and biology and physiology teacher in preceding years. He also successfully served as head football coach.
After leaving Westerly, he headed the New Shoreham school department between 1997 and 2001.
The Pearl Street resident has since done education consulting work, including consulting for Robert Haig Associates architects.
In other business, DiPaola announced elementary school principal assignments for the next school year.
Current Tower Street School Principal Audrey Faubert will head State Street School, while Springbrook School’s Christopher Haskins will move to Dunn’s Corners School. There was no mention of what current Dunn’s Corners Principal Jamie M. Giordano’s role will be in the reorganization.
Debra Pendola was assigned a split position heading Bradford School, where she currently works, and the fifth-grade cohort at the middle school. And State Street School Principal Victor Ventura will move to Springbrook School.
The reorganization stems from the previous school board decisions to move fifth-grade students to Westerly Middle School and to close Tower Street School next year.
DiPaola reiterated Wednesday that these changes will impact all district schools and reassigning the principals is an integral part of rebuilding each school’s culture.
The superintendent’s assignments were considered part of his administrative duties and were not open to board vote.
Board member David Patten, however, questioned why Faubert, whom he did not name but described as the principal who has headed Distinguished Title 1 Tower Street School, would not be assigned to Springbrook, where a number of Title 1 students are expected to be transferred next year. Board Vice Chairman Jack Carson said he shared that concern.
Attorney Nardone advised the board against further discussion on individual job performance.
Patten later said, “I would like to see this decision made by the interim superintendent, with all respect to Dr. DiPaola.”
Board members Mary Raftery and Louis Sposato disagreed.
“We need to move forward. We have to be careful as a committee of pitting one of our principals against another,” Sposato said.
Patten described this move as the second recent bad decision made by the district (the first was the closing of Tower Street School) and “strenuously” objected to the assignments.
Nardone interrupted and said the board’s agenda does not include an evaluation of the superintendent’s job performance.
“There is an appropriate time. There is an appropriate forum and this is neither of them,” he said.
Board member Scott Bavasso said he was confident each principal would “shine” no matter where they are assigned.
Augeri, a Westerly superintendent in the 1980s and the high school football field’s namesake, was unanimously selected after the board privately deliberated in executive session Wednesday night.
Augeri is expected to begin Jan. 1, although board Chairman James Murano Jr. said Augeri will likely work with retiring Schools Superintendent Thomas DiPaola prior to that time for a smooth transition.
Augeri currently acts as an education consultant for school districts and firms. He is expected to head the Westerly district while the School Committee conducts a search for a permanent superintendent.
The board is currently awaiting bids in response for a request for proposal for a consultant. DiPaola said he expected the New England School Development Council, the firm that assisted with the district’s last superintendent search, to submit a bid by the Nov. 26 deadline.
Murano said the board considered four candidates, including Augeri, for the interim position. The board received five applications total, he said.
Augeri’s compensation had not been finalized Wednesday.
“[Schools Solicitor William] Nardone and myself will sit down and work out the terms of his employment,” Murano said, adding the salary will be made public thereafter.
Murano added of the board’s selection, “I think he’s the perfect fit for what we need right now.”
“Mr. Augeri brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a superintendent,” he said. Augeri headed Westerly schools from 1980 to 1990 and worked as an administrative assistant to the superintendent, Westerly High School assistant principal and biology and physiology teacher in preceding years. He also successfully served as head football coach.
After leaving Westerly, he headed the New Shoreham school department between 1997 and 2001.
The Pearl Street resident has since done education consulting work, including consulting for Robert Haig Associates architects.
In other business, DiPaola announced elementary school principal assignments for the next school year.
Current Tower Street School Principal Audrey Faubert will head State Street School, while Springbrook School’s Christopher Haskins will move to Dunn’s Corners School. There was no mention of what current Dunn’s Corners Principal Jamie M. Giordano’s role will be in the reorganization.
Debra Pendola was assigned a split position heading Bradford School, where she currently works, and the fifth-grade cohort at the middle school. And State Street School Principal Victor Ventura will move to Springbrook School.
The reorganization stems from the previous school board decisions to move fifth-grade students to Westerly Middle School and to close Tower Street School next year.
DiPaola reiterated Wednesday that these changes will impact all district schools and reassigning the principals is an integral part of rebuilding each school’s culture.
The superintendent’s assignments were considered part of his administrative duties and were not open to board vote.
Board member David Patten, however, questioned why Faubert, whom he did not name but described as the principal who has headed Distinguished Title 1 Tower Street School, would not be assigned to Springbrook, where a number of Title 1 students are expected to be transferred next year. Board Vice Chairman Jack Carson said he shared that concern.
Attorney Nardone advised the board against further discussion on individual job performance.
Patten later said, “I would like to see this decision made by the interim superintendent, with all respect to Dr. DiPaola.”
Board members Mary Raftery and Louis Sposato disagreed.
“We need to move forward. We have to be careful as a committee of pitting one of our principals against another,” Sposato said.
Patten described this move as the second recent bad decision made by the district (the first was the closing of Tower Street School) and “strenuously” objected to the assignments.
Nardone interrupted and said the board’s agenda does not include an evaluation of the superintendent’s job performance.
“There is an appropriate time. There is an appropriate forum and this is neither of them,” he said.
Board member Scott Bavasso said he was confident each principal would “shine” no matter where they are assigned.
TranspoWorker wrote on Nov 27, 2008 9:09 AM:
" TO: Unclesmedley: Maybe we should privatize the transportation system. However, Westerly is not prepared to take the consequences of this action. Firstly, a private transportation company will run the service as a BUSINESS, not as a portable day care shuttle. For example; you can forget about door-to-door pickups of students. You'll see a few stops where hordes of students will get off the bus and WALK to their homes. More importantly, there will be effective bus discipline. Instead of shuffling around employees and pretending that everything is hunky dunky on the busses, a private agency will actually deal with the handful of repeat disciplinary problems by permanent EXPULSION from the bus. Do you really think the town of Westerly is prepared for that radical yet common sense approach to dealing with the "farcical mess" that is the present day Westerly school transportation system? "
WOW wrote on Nov 23, 2008 7:39 AM:
" This is what I call taking care of the good old (and I do mean old) boys. Three ex-jocks running our school system. If this can as a surprise to anyone then you are quite uninformed.
Next up Steve Hartford town manager. It's a done deed. You would think our outstanding newspaper would question all these back door deals. "
Next up Steve Hartford town manager. It's a done deed. You would think our outstanding newspaper would question all these back door deals. "
MariaBucchino wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:56 PM:
" If we only need an Interim Sylvia Blanda is more than capable. When we are closing a school, about to lay off more than too many teachers and staff, anyone with less than 7 years get a christmas present of a pink slip.
We certainly need to make better decisions here. We do not need to go out and "recall" someone we are going to pay more than too much money to come in make sweeping decisions and then leave the rubble behind for someone else to clean up. "
We certainly need to make better decisions here. We do not need to go out and "recall" someone we are going to pay more than too much money to come in make sweeping decisions and then leave the rubble behind for someone else to clean up. "
Harry wrote on Nov 22, 2008 7:13 PM:
" that school committee election was popularity contest with the top 3 vote getters
all have no skills to run our schools
i agree...let's have a recall "
all have no skills to run our schools
i agree...let's have a recall "
We asked for it wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:29 AM:
" Murano and Carson were number 1 and 2 vote getters- both have no experience in financial management and ask any teacher have very limited knowledge in instruction- coaching sure they can be the AD with no problem. They represent to good old boys- how dare them spend 2500 a week of our tax payers money to hire a friend as interim- teachers cant get materials and they hire another coach.
I guess the other school committee members are just rolling over and let the two head coaches run the show- how about hiring an outsider with real leadership skills and willing to shake it up a bit- The Country voted for change but in Westerly we vote for icompetence and friends only- again- why isnt the paper investigating and reporting how this decison was made and the costs to the taxpeyer- Mrs Blanda is more than qualified- those who dont like her ( like Murano) were confronted for not doing their jobs correctly- as a teacher I have to be quiet but as a taxpayer I am sickened. Stop attacking teachers when our leaders waste money "
I guess the other school committee members are just rolling over and let the two head coaches run the show- how about hiring an outsider with real leadership skills and willing to shake it up a bit- The Country voted for change but in Westerly we vote for icompetence and friends only- again- why isnt the paper investigating and reporting how this decison was made and the costs to the taxpeyer- Mrs Blanda is more than qualified- those who dont like her ( like Murano) were confronted for not doing their jobs correctly- as a teacher I have to be quiet but as a taxpayer I am sickened. Stop attacking teachers when our leaders waste money "
re; Bob Cratchit wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:35 AM:
" They're just rewarding/enriching of one of their own with taxpayer dollars. "
Down and Out in Westerly Hills wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:25 AM:
" I digress...... Anyone notice the picture of the new animal shelter on the front page of the paper today. Drive by and look at it and take in the absurdity of the level of design and
construction cost of this building..... a phreaking animal shelter! Shall we call it a little bit of "Watch Hill, Weekapaug & Shelter Harbor by the Dump"? Think of how many human beings could have been helped with the money wasted building more than what was necessary..... a Mercedes, when a Chevrolet would have been perfectly adequate. Who's going to get the next monument?
"
construction cost of this building..... a phreaking animal shelter! Shall we call it a little bit of "Watch Hill, Weekapaug & Shelter Harbor by the Dump"? Think of how many human beings could have been helped with the money wasted building more than what was necessary..... a Mercedes, when a Chevrolet would have been perfectly adequate. Who's going to get the next monument?
"
GO TEAM, GO! wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:07 AM:
" WANNA PLAY SOME FOOTBALL?????????? LET'S RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's see, what's missing? OH! I KNOW. CHEERLEADERS AND POM-POMS! "
Fire District owner-John wrote on Nov 21, 2008 11:04 PM:
" the story is he will hire Mr. Terranova as his first official act..
so Murano, Carson, Augeri and Terranova can have lunch meetings every day
we just keep paying
wonder what his daily rate of pay will be...keep Blanda---it's cheaper "
so Murano, Carson, Augeri and Terranova can have lunch meetings every day
we just keep paying
wonder what his daily rate of pay will be...keep Blanda---it's cheaper "
school supporter wrote on Nov 21, 2008 6:20 PM:
" It is amazing how many people are anti-coach on this site. All of these coaches were highly successful in part due to a high degree of intelligence. Mr. Augeri has been involved in education almost continually since he retired from Westerly. As a person very familiar with the Westerly schools, his first order of business should be to fire Blanda. Her incompetence is astounding. "
Re: ITS BEEN A LONG TIME wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:00 PM:
" Agreed, Coach Augeri has 1990'e era experience, but he does have experience. I would be against hiring Sal as the full time Superintendent but more than welcome his status as interim!! "
Re: re Conflict of Interest? wrote on Nov 21, 2008 11:58 AM:
" Sounds like you have no idea what you are talking about and are intent on wasting virtual space! Do you have any facts to bring to the discussion?? No, I didn't think so!!! Typical non-resident! "
ITS BEEN A LONG TIME wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:45 AM:
" since Coach Augeri was superintendent. Many things have changed since then. I wonder what he has been doing ever since then, and how is he qualified, at this crucial point in time to take over the reins, even on an interim basis. An awful lot can happen in this interim period and it frightens me to think that we do not have a new person with more recent and higher qualifications to do the job! I'm not disputing that he HAD (past tense) the qualifications back when, but does he now???? "
re Conflict of Interest? wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:05 AM:
" Sounds like you have a personal beef with Mr. Patten. Why don't you go to a meeting and raise the concern? Or better yet, go ask the guy about it. I was at the meeting where he brought it up himself, so that is pretty transparent. Besides that he said at another meeting she works for the district and only makes $3500 a year. Whats the big deal? "
Bob Cratchit wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:58 AM:
" Bringing the "old" out of "retirement" only makes sense in Westerly. Go figure. "
ClamCake wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:55 AM:
" The more things change, the more they stay the same. How about hiring someone based on actual qualifications rather than "well, he's a Westerly boy who coached the football team." "
Conflict of Interest??? wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:42 AM:
" David Patten's wife works at Tower Street School according to the article she wrote into the Westerly Sun...
By David voting on issues that pertain to where his wife works, he is engaging in a direct CONFLICT OF INTEREST, seeing as how he stands to gain from his wife's position!! Didn't school solicitor Nardone inform him of this conflict?? In the future, I would expect David to recuse himself from voting on issues that have a direct impact on his family's financial status. NOT A GOOD START FOR THE NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE DAVID. YOU RAN ON THE PLATFORM OF TRANSPARENCY, DID YOU NOT? "
By David voting on issues that pertain to where his wife works, he is engaging in a direct CONFLICT OF INTEREST, seeing as how he stands to gain from his wife's position!! Didn't school solicitor Nardone inform him of this conflict?? In the future, I would expect David to recuse himself from voting on issues that have a direct impact on his family's financial status. NOT A GOOD START FOR THE NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE DAVID. YOU RAN ON THE PLATFORM OF TRANSPARENCY, DID YOU NOT? "
Chris wrote on Nov 21, 2008 7:59 AM:
" Mrs. Blanda as interim supt ????? Are you crazy ? If you knew some of the decisions she has made, you would realize the craziness in that statement. Just because you like someone doesn't make them a great leader. I understand how it looks with Mr Augeri coming back and Mr Murano and Carson on the school committee, but lets give them a chance before we start bashing them. As far as principals being shuffled, how does it make sense for Mrs. Pendola to be principal at Bradford and then come to the Middle School to take care of 5th graders ? So if there is a problem with a 5th grader at the middle school and she is not there, what happens ? We tell the student that got in trouble he has to wait for Mrs Pendola to arrive, she will be here in 2 hours ?? Seems pretty ridiculous to me. Like it was said previously, its all about the kids, right ? "
lortje wrote on Nov 20, 2008 10:41 PM:
" I just don't get why all the principals needed to be shuffled around too. If there was really a concern about "rebuilding each school's culture", then why create MORE upheaval? "
unclesmedley wrote on Nov 20, 2008 10:33 PM:
" Mr. Augeri seems like a good and qualified man. I hope the entrenched interests here in his hometown won't impair his ability to make the proper (albeit, difficult) decisions that he will surely face.
The loss of Ms. Giordano at DCS is a travesty. The failure to consider her tireless efforts and manifest success speaks to the improper influences that continue to undermine sound district policy.
The district transportation system is a farcical mess. The kids are being handled like ground freight. We should sell the buses, cut payroll & expenses, contract with a competent private service and apply the windfall to more pressing issues than full-employment for transpo-folk.
This is a school district, not a union lodge. The schools are not a drain on the community; the bureaucracy that is foisted upon them is. Seniority systems and work rules are a cancer on this community.
Finally, Westerly is renowned for its Special Education Services. It is our de facto brand. Hopefully, the new administration will recognize and support this attribute--not only for the special needs kids, but for the community, which only benefits from excellent schools. "
The loss of Ms. Giordano at DCS is a travesty. The failure to consider her tireless efforts and manifest success speaks to the improper influences that continue to undermine sound district policy.
The district transportation system is a farcical mess. The kids are being handled like ground freight. We should sell the buses, cut payroll & expenses, contract with a competent private service and apply the windfall to more pressing issues than full-employment for transpo-folk.
This is a school district, not a union lodge. The schools are not a drain on the community; the bureaucracy that is foisted upon them is. Seniority systems and work rules are a cancer on this community.
Finally, Westerly is renowned for its Special Education Services. It is our de facto brand. Hopefully, the new administration will recognize and support this attribute--not only for the special needs kids, but for the community, which only benefits from excellent schools. "
Jimmy T wrote on Nov 20, 2008 10:01 PM:
" what a deal this new chairman of school committee made.. "
Coaches rule wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:33 PM:
" We need educational leaders- does anyone understand the State and Federal requirements that cost us millions of dollars and can cost us more if we do not succeed. Sal Algiere is a nice guy- we all know that but the school committee is just putting the good old boy coaching network in place- JACK Carson and Jim Murano were very weak instructional principals- that is why they were both fired by a previous superintendent who had guts to fight the old boys network to help our students- Mrs Blanda is an exceptional educational leader and should have been made interim supt and this would have saved us thousands of dollars- Sal is getting 500 a day - as a teacher in the school system I am sick of this school committee ruining what we have accomplished- stay away from micro managing- I worked under both the chair and vice chair- both were not so impressive- the WTA and parents must get involved to protect the interest of the students "
stranger still wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:54 PM:
" All the principals changed schools. Wait for the teacher shuffle. Interim superintendent on January 1. Another superintendent on July 1. We need to get beyond personal squabbles and pull together for ALL kids. Isn't that what it is all about? "
Re: Maria Buchino wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:50 PM:
" I watched the meeting on TV last night when they discussed the policy for special education staff. Mr. Patten raised some concerns about that as well. It appears that he is willing to raise issues for discussion. You and others with concerns may want to approach him. "
Voter '08 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:16 PM:
" I find it interesting that former superintendents are considered to have a wealth of experience and are held in high esteem yet some experienced teachers with similiar years experience are dismissed in their thinking by many who feel they cannot contribute with their experiences with school changes. "
strange wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:30 PM:
" Why did they displace ALL of the principals?? Just one got to keep her current school....everyone else got moved. You would think that with all the upheaval the school system is about to go through with the closing of Tower Street and moving so many children around they would leave some piece of stability in the schools they could! I don't see the logic. "
Maria Bucchino wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:14 PM:
" I'm the parent of a special needs student. I have to stop and wonder if Mr. Patten is going to be as willing to voice his concerns for our special education population as he seems to be doing in regards to Title 1 and Tower Street, which by the way is a done deal!
His wife also wrote a very long editorial this week that did not support our district. Tower Street is not the ONLY fabulous school in our time. Every school has its pros and cons. Let's work with the rest of the schools to make them better for ALL our children. ALL deserve a superb education!
"
His wife also wrote a very long editorial this week that did not support our district. Tower Street is not the ONLY fabulous school in our time. Every school has its pros and cons. Let's work with the rest of the schools to make them better for ALL our children. ALL deserve a superb education!
"
Concerned for the students wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:05 PM:
" I have seen that David Patten reads these comments as I have seen a response from Mr. Patten here. So I will say that as a former teacher I am appalled at the constant reference Mr. Patten makes toward the Title 1 students. Mr. Patten you are picking these students out from the group as if they are different from the other children. Financially they are coming from a different background, yes, but they are children and students all the same. Stop alienating them by constantly discussing their label as Title 1. If your wife did not wok for this program would you incessantly segregrate this group of children? Is it to say that you feel because they come from lower monetary backgrounds that they are unable to learn and adapt to change? Change is tough for all students. Very close minded please give these children some credit. Would it be fair for the students to be placed in seperate classrooms as they are Title 1? Let them integrate without brining that label to the forefront while these changes take place. "
JAN wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:52 PM:
" The kids always loved Mr. Augeri. I think the parents felt confident with him years ago. I hope he is up to the demand of the job/ I am thankful he is still offering his services..to Westerly.
Wanted to add - We all miss a former coash and friend
Syl Serra....He was a great teacher/coach and fellow human being! "
Wanted to add - We all miss a former coash and friend
Syl Serra....He was a great teacher/coach and fellow human being! "
Local Vocal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:48 PM:
" I am glad to see some healthy debate about decisions made in the school department. That is what we need from our officials on the town council and school committee. "
HAPPY wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:33 PM:
" I am so happy Mr. Sal Augeri will be back. He was a great Superintendent. He will be a great asset to The Westerly School Dept. He always praised The Westerly School Bus Drivers. Maybe now their voices will be heard AGAIN and issues will be given some attention.
Best Wishes........Mr. Augeri
Hope you stay !!!!! "
Best Wishes........Mr. Augeri
Hope you stay !!!!! "
Incredible!!! wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:26 PM:
" A few points of interest here;
1.) "Board member David Patten, however, questioned why Faubert, whom he did not name but described as the principal who has headed Distinguished Title 1 Tower Street School, would not be assigned to Springbrook, where a number of Title 1 students are expected to be transferred next year. Board Vice Chairman Jack Carson said he shared that concern."
I find it hard to believe that Audrey will ONLY be as effective at Springbrook as she was at Tower Street. I can assure the School Committee naysayers, that Mrs. Faubert will be successful shepherding any school, not just a 'Title 1' school. UTTERLY RIDICULOUS
2.) "Patten described this move as the second recent bad decision made by the district (the first was the closing of Tower Street School) and “strenuously” objected to the assignments."
Shame on you David for your divisive comments!! The town expects more from you! You'll learn your political lessons soon enough if you approach decisions with such animosity!!!
"
1.) "Board member David Patten, however, questioned why Faubert, whom he did not name but described as the principal who has headed Distinguished Title 1 Tower Street School, would not be assigned to Springbrook, where a number of Title 1 students are expected to be transferred next year. Board Vice Chairman Jack Carson said he shared that concern."
I find it hard to believe that Audrey will ONLY be as effective at Springbrook as she was at Tower Street. I can assure the School Committee naysayers, that Mrs. Faubert will be successful shepherding any school, not just a 'Title 1' school. UTTERLY RIDICULOUS
2.) "Patten described this move as the second recent bad decision made by the district (the first was the closing of Tower Street School) and “strenuously” objected to the assignments."
Shame on you David for your divisive comments!! The town expects more from you! You'll learn your political lessons soon enough if you approach decisions with such animosity!!!
"
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