School Employees Resign, Citing Recent School Board Actions (CT)

June 16, 2010

Two school district employees resigned recently, both saying that recent actions by the Board of Education factored significantly in their decisions.

Alfred Pullo, the district’s business manager, submitted a letter of resignation on June 3. His resignation is effective on June 30.

Rose Forzano, administrative assistant to Superintendent Dr. Judith Palmer, resigned Monday, June 7.

Mr. Pullo, hired last July, succeeded Stuart Opdahl, who resigned in March, 2009, for health reasons.

He said last week that he had accepted a position in the Woodbridge Public Schools.

Mr. Pullo, who has six years of experience in school finance and two decades in private-sector finance, said one of his biggest concerns was the way the current school board has misaligned goals and values.

He noted that a subcommittee of the board excused him and Dr. Palmer from one of its meetings and, when the full board met 1-1/2 hours later, it eliminated the positions of an assistant principal at Great Oak Middle School and a financial assistant at the central office.

They did this without consulting any administrator, Mr. Pullo said.

"It was a flagrant disregard for what the school system needs," he said.

Mr. Pullo said, under the circumstances, he found it difficult to understand how any professional would continue to work for the district.

"It’s terrible. It doesn’t make for a good feeling to come to work," he said.

He said the last straw for him was the void ing of the board’s contract with Dr. Palmer and its refusal to disclose what part of the contract it found to be inconsistent with state law.

He said it was his understanding that under Freedom of Information laws, the board could release a legal opinion if board members wished.

"But, they chose not to," he said.

Mr. Pullo said he considered Dr. Palmer to be an asset to the district.

"She has a passion for children. She’s an educator. She knows the business side of education," he said.

Mr. Pullo said when he learned that his own contract was also going to be reviewed, he was told by Chairman Rose McKinnon that he couldn’t be present because the review wasn’t performance-related.

He said Mrs. McKinnon told him later that attorneys had uncovered a minor issue but that she was not at liberty to discuss what the issue was.

"That is so indicative and transparent of dishonest leadership," he said.

Mr. Pullo said, when he took the job in Oxford, he didn’t see it as a long-term fit, but he anticipated staying more than 12 months.

In his new position, he will earn $100,000 a year. He currently earns $88,482.

Mrs. Forzano, who has worked in the school district for 12 years, the last six as the superintendent’s administrative assistant, said recent events, including the elimination of the assistant principal and finance assistant positions, caused her to reevaluate her position.

"I didn’t like the direction it’s going in – what they’re doin g to other people in the district," she said.

Mrs. Forzano said, when she saw the item concerning Dr. Palmer’s contract on the agenda in May, she concluded, "This is not good. I need to move on."

She said she applied for a job in Easton-Redding School District in May and was notified on June 4 that the job was hers.

She starts her new position, with a higher pay, on July 1.

First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said last Wednesday that it was regrettable that Mr. Pullo was leaving.

She said he was an excellent business manager and had lot of knowledge about special education funding.

Now the town is minus a school business manager and administrative assistant and doesn’t know if the superintendent’s contract will be extended beyond June 30, she said.

Mrs. Drayton-Rogers said it particularly disturbed her that the school board canceled its June 8 meeting and is not scheduled to have another regular meeting until July 13.

She said the failure of the board to meet precluded citizens from addressing the board on these issues publicly before June 30, the day Dr. Palmer’s contract expires.

Frustrated at the lack of a forum, supporters of Dr. Palmer were scheduled to stage a "Save Our Superintendent" rally last evening, June 15, at Oxford High School.

Mrs. McKinnon said Friday she was surprised to learn about a rally to "save" Dr. Palmer.

"Save from what?" she asked.

Mrs . McKinnon insisted there was no plot underfoot to oust Dr. Palmer.

She reiterated earlier statements that the superintendent’s contract was voided because some language it contained was inconsistent with state statutes and that the board intended to conduct a performance evaluation prior to June 30 when Dr. Palmer’s contract expires.

She said the board’s Personnel, Finance and Insurance Subcommittee was in the process of preparing a comprehensive evaluation form, based on rubrics used in other districts, that the entire board could use in the evaluation.

The format is expected to be acted on at a special meeting that will be scheduled either this week or next, along with the items that were on the agenda for June 8, she said.

That meeting was canceled because six of the nine members, not including herself, were unable to attend.

A second meeting will be scheduled this month to conduct the evaluation and the board will then decide the direction it wishes to take, she said.

"It’s a new board. It’s important that they be included in the process," Mrs. McKinnon said.

Asked if an audience of citizens, normally not provided for in special meetings, would be included at the first of the two upcoming special meetings, Mrs. McKinnon said she would e-mail members and ask them if they would like to include it.

On the matter of the resignations, Mrs. McKinnon said Mr. Pullo, in his letter of resignation, made no reference to dissatisfaction with the board. She said it has been rumored that he had been looking for another job since last November.

She said, relative to excusing Mr. Pullo and Dr. Palmer from a subcommittee meeting, that there were items the board felt it could discuss more openly if they were not present.

Responding to Mr. Pullo’s allegations about contract issues, she said when he asked her about his contract review, she told him, if there had been an issue, it would have been a minor one.

"I told him it was nothing. I didn’t say it was an issue," she said.

Mrs. McKinnon said Mr. Pullo told her subsequently that he was leaving to pursue another opportunity.

"Now he’s singing a different tune," she said.

Mrs. McKinnon said it appeared to her that both Mr. Pullo and Mrs. Forzano were simply moving on to larger districts where they would receive more money and more opportunities.