Papallo Seeks To Reinstate One Assistant Principal

Interim Superintendent William Papallo plans to reinstate two positions that were eliminated because of recent budget cuts.

In a memo distributed to Board of Education members Friday in advance of the BOE meeting to be held tomorrow (8/18), Dr. Papallo said he wanted to re-hire a human resources assistant and restore the position one elementary school assistant principal. However no decision has been made on which schools will get back their full time assistant principals.

As previously reported by NorwalkNet, Dr. Sal Corda decided in July to have part-time assistant principals at four elementary schools: Tracey, Columbus, Naramake, and Wolfpit. At last month's BOE meeting parents and teachers from Tracey protested vociferously.

"This issue was given priority because of the many demands placed on our schools by daily needs, and demands required by the greater involvement of the federal and state government," said Dr. Papallo in his memo to board members.

"The challenge at this time is to determine which two of the four schools should receive full time positions. An examination of the vital statistics shows them to be very close in terms of statistics and a good case can be made for each," he said.

Dr. Papallo said that he wanted to meet with the principals of the effected schools but would not be able to do so until today (8/17) because one of the principals had been on vacation.

Hiring back the assistant principal and the HR assistant would cost the district $221,000 according to supporting documents accompanying the memo. ( $131,646 for the assitant principal and $89,531 for the HR assistant). Some of the funding for the position will come as a result of staff vacancies. However the bulk of funds ($133K) will come through money the district is saving as a result of not having to transport students to Wright Technical School which was closed by the State this summer.

Dr. Papallo's plans are highly dependent on a funding grant being passed by the legislature. In this same memo he advises the board that since Wright has closed, students may elect to attend Abott Tech in Danbury.

"I told the [state] commissioner that transportation funds from the closing of Wright Tech are already committed and he claimed that there would be some money available to assist us."

Dr. Papallo said that he has been told that John Wayne Fox (D-Stamford) is submitting legislation that would provide for grants to transport students to vocational schools. He urged to contact legislators to endorse such a bill.

Dr. Papallo did not address what would happen if no grants were made available.