By Laura Lane
Michele Chernet, the former co-president of the Levy-Lakeside PTA, insisted that Superintendent Ranier Melucci divulge which administrative position would soon be vacant. Melucci said he could not tell her because it would reveal who had resigned, which he said was privileged personnel information. Chernet said she could not understand why the information was being kept from residents when it was announced last year at a board meeting that Ann Pelusso, the former assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, had resigned her position. Chernet added that this year, at a previous board meeting, it was announced that Anthony Cedrone, the assistant superintendent for business and technology, would be leaving for a position elsewhere.
"I think you know who it is," Melucci replied, adding that "it is the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction."
Chernet pressed the issue, asking the Board of Education why it remained quiet.
"It wasn't meant to be secretive," said Nancy Kaplan, the board president.
Chernet then asked that the district conduct formal exit interviews with administrators so it would be known "what worked and what didn't."
Resident Sheri Iskenderian then read a letter to the board. Like Chernet, she also requested private, in-depth exit interviews, but requested that the interviews be held with all assistant superintendents who have left in the past two years as well as those leaving now.
"It is apparent that we have had a tremendous turnover in our administrative office over the last two years," Iskenderian read. "I am concerned that this turnover has resulted in a lack of a consistent direction in the curriculum area. Through these interviews, I hope that the board will be able to glean information in order to better understand why so many well-qualified professionals are leaving our district and possibly prevent this trend in the future."
Trustees said they would consider the suggestion.
Rosenberg also spoke. "The teachers of this district are deeply concerned and confused about the turnover that has occurred and continues to occur in the central office," she said. "It is unsettling and undermines the stability of our school district. The question we ask is, what motivation could someone have to leave the district after just one year - particularly since that year has been a successful and productive one?"
Residents also wanted to know if an advertisement had been placed to fill the position that will be vacant once Terry Ganley, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, leaves.
Board President Benay Shear said the advertisement had not been placed yet because there was continued discussion among trustees. She added that the curriculum work customarily done each summer would move forward without the leadership of the assistant superintendent.
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
