Tainted by a possible violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act and rumors swirling around an investigator’s findings relating to an incident at Gorton Junior High School, Mayor Scott Avedisian …
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Tainted by a possible violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act and rumors swirling around an investigator’s findings relating to an incident at Gorton Junior High School, Mayor Scott Avedisian suggested yesterday the School Committee postpone its search for a superintendent and re-start the search.
Avedisian’s call, which was echoed by disparaging comments from several council members at the conclusion of yesterday’s Memorial Day parade, comes after a closed School Committee meeting Thursday at which both the investigation being performed by attorney Vincent Ragosta and the superintendent were discussed.
Neither Committee Chair Jennifer Ahearn nor vice-chair Eugene Nadeau could be reached for comment yesterday. There have been no reports of a vote taken Thursday or a posting on the school website.
Avedisian, Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson and City Council President Donna Travis said that it is their understanding the search for the superintendent has been narrowed to the incumbent, Richard D’Agostino, and Anthony Pope of Marlborough, Mass.
Avedisian said he asked Ahearn “not to move forward” with the search for a superintendent until Ragosta’s investigation of the school administration’s response to the Gorton incident is completed. Ragosta has interviewed six people and already spent about 85 hours determining how school officials handled a report that science teacher Mario Atoyan had drawn a penis on the arm of one female student and feces on another about a year ago. The incident of the drawings came to light when Atoyan was indicted for first and second degree sexual assault on a 15-year-old North Kingstown girl.
Vella-Wilkinson questioned how the committee could select D’Agostino in light of the investigation, or, at least until the investigation is completed and made public.
“They’re down to two finalists,” said Avedisian. “I think they knew who they wanted from day one. I think they need to start again.”
Last week the Beacon reported William McCaffrey, director of the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center, received a letter in April thanking him for applying for superintendent. Ahearn confirmed McCaffrey was taken out of the running in an executive committee meeting. That vote was never made public as required by state law.
Pope surfaced as a candidate more than two months ago, but was never confirmed by Ahearn. Pope has had a controversial career. Online stories tell of disputes he had with the Marlborough School Committee culminating with how they agreed to pay him $99,000 upon his resignation in July 2012.
Informed of that history when Pope’s name first came up, Ahearn didn’t deny he was a candidate, but said past circumstances surrounding an individual, especially as reported on the Internet, should not be the sole criteria for making a decision.
“We can’t afford to hire and buy out another superintendent,” said Vella-Wilkinson in reference to superintendents the committee has bought out of their contracts in the last 20 years – Elliot LeFavier and Peter Horoschak.
Travis said she has been so troubled by the schools issues, which also includes the committee’s request for an additional $6.9 million in city funding and the report of a school consultant that the system has eight to 10 too many schools, that she has nightmares.
Travis thinks McCaffrey is the best of the candidates, although at this point the committee has discounted him.
“He’s got roots here. He’s done so much,” Travis said, mentioning grant awards McCaffrey has won for the center.
Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur is appalled if the choices are down to D’Agostino and Pope.
“What we need is someone in the system who can get the job done,” he said.
Ladouceur believes McCaffrey is capable of “fixing the disconnect” between the schools and the city administration.
“We need someone who knows the history of Warwick.”
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danfire
Sounds like the school committee has set this up all along. If they don;'t get the yes man Dick D'Agostino they are going to punish the city with Anthony Pope. When you want to make your candidate look better you pick someone who is worse. So the choices are the Pope or the Dope. Neither 1 is good for education in Warwick.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Report this
jackiemama63
Ms. Travis is having "nightmares?" Really? "Roots?" School consolidation has been an issue for Warwick since the 1980s, and sadly there are too many people with "roots" preventing our school system from moving forward into the 21st century. It should not come as a surprise that we must close some buildings and rethink the way our school system does its business. As far as finding a superintendent with "roots?" The last thing we need is someone with "roots" running our school system, look what "roots" has gotten us so far. If anything, we need someone from outside the "bubble" that is Warwick, to shake things up a bit. I do agree with the Mayor.....keep looking. The current climate is too political, the City Council and certain members of the School Committee have been looking for a reason to be done with Dr. D'Agostino, Dennis Mullen, and Rosemary Healey for the last two years. If Dr. D'Agostino had anything to do with the Gorton thing, or was found to be culpable in some way, he would have been canned by now. Same with the other two people. I don't know why people are getting whipped up into a frenzy, they should save their energy, nothing is going to change. We might get a new superintendent, but that doesn't mean anything will change, or at least, change for the better. It's all in the hands of the elected officials. Lord help us.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Report this
Gonewiththewind
The D'Agostno, Healy, Mullin, and Furtado cliche are running the show. They are all power hungry individuals who have conspired to control everything. So far they're doing a wonderful job aren't they? It's time to bring in a new superintendent who doesn't owe his/her soul to any of them. Come on Warwick, you're better than this....
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Report this
jackiemama63
I disagree, they are not "running" everything. There is a School Committee in place, and Beth Furtado is only one person on that Committee. The others cannot make a move without consent from the School Committee. All matters come to rest at the feet of those individuals. It is time for them to make some difficult decisions, but if history is an indicator....I won't hold my breath, nor should anyone else.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Report this
Marccomtois
First, I agree there are no exemplars of truth, liberty and the American Way here but never ascribe to conspiracy what can more easily be explained by ineptitude. My guess is the SC - which is being run by the inexperienced Ahearn - simply screwed this up with regards to the notification of the vote. It looks like Healy wasn't included b/c it was a personnel vote and, generally, she keeps things done the "right way" from a legal/Roberts Rules standpoint. In general, I think the SC is showing some inexperience at the top and that they simply aren't prepared (are they ever?) for the level of politics that are played from the City side (Mayor and City Council). The Mayor and City Council clearly are upset because it is apparent that McCaffrey is "their guy". This has less to do with the process than with who was impacted - again, their guy. Does anyone really think that THIS City Council has a deep-seated concern for doing things the right way? Only if they can use it as an opportunity to make mischief.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Report this
Ward5resident
Gonewiththewind, you really have it all figured out huh? You do realize that Dennis Mullen, former RI principal of the year, the person who 2 years ago lead a commission that recommended school consolidation, and a man who has devoted his life to education, retired a month ago, right? So power hungry that he took an asst principal position out of state. I dont blame him, the decisions the administration leadership and school committee has made and refused to make, have the cities education system in shambles despite bleeding taxpayers dry.
Friday, May 29, 2015 Report this
jackiemama63
Ward5resident, you are "spot on" about Dennis Mullen. His leaving WPS is a huge loss.
Friday, May 29, 2015 Report this