By Angela Marshall and Jennifer Marino
The school board also thanked Peluso for her long dedication to the Wilson School family. She is leaving to become the assistant to the superintendent in charge of curriculum and instruction in Merrick.
Ricupero started his tenure in the district in 1979 as a special education teacher at South Side High School. He took a leave of absence to try another career, realized it wasn't for him and came back to the district as a special education teacher at Wilson. He was later moved back up to teach at the high school and was eventually promoted to chair of special education there. In the 1990s he became an instructional supervisor at the middle school and he has served as principal there since July 2000.
"We're certain he'll be successful," said school board President Meg Koch of Ricupero.
Board member William Burke praised Ricupero for doing the district a great service by "stepping up to the plate."
Ricupero said he always had the idea of being an elementary school principal in the back of his mind and Wilson is the perfect fit. His three children, Lindsey, Kevin and Kristen, all went there and even though they have long since left the school, Ricupero still considers himself a Wilson parent. Kevin is an eighth grader at SSMS, Kristen is a sophomore at SUNY College at Oneonta and Lindsey just graduated from York College. Ricupero's wife, Nancy, is a special education teacher at Hicksville High School.
Until a replacement is found, Ralph Campanella will fill in as interim principal at the middle school. Campanella was principal of Watson School for many years and worked in the district for 37 years.
Campanella will start on Jan. 13 and said he can stay until June if needed. The position will be posted internally first.
"I think he's going to be great," said Ricupero of Campanella. When Ricupero announced Campanella's appointment last week, many of the interim principal's former Watson students let out a roar of approval.
And if Campanella has any questions, Ricupero said, "I'll only be a phone call away."
