Principal transfers topic of BOE meeting

The Middletown Board of Education will meet with district parents and students in a special meeting about possible principal transfers.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in High School South’s auditorium at 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

The transfers are a result of the retirement of River Plaza School Principal Frank Vaccarelli and Port Monmouth School Principal John St. Peter. Both will be leaving in September.

Navesink Elementary School Principal Christopher Halpin has been named to replace Alan Feuer as the district assistant superintendent of schools.

"I hope everyone stays calm and level heads prevail," board President Robert W. Bucco Jr. said. "I want to hear all the comments of the public."

Bucco took the issue off the agenda at the board’s July 22 regular meeting and called a special meeting to address the issue.

"It’s a very important issue, and I wanted to devote one meeting for just that," he said.

The special meeting was originally scheduled for yesterday, but at least one board member could not attend.

"I believe every board member should be present because of the importance of the issue," Bucco said.

Public comment will be considered before a final vote is made, the board president added.

"[The public’s] opinions, suggestions and comments are very important to us as a board," Bucco said. "We don’t just make these transfers and decisions in a vacuum."

Superintendent of Schools David Witmer and his staff have had input in the board’s decision-making process.

The board is expected to transfer High School South Principal Daniel Lane to Port Monmouth Elementary School, according to board member Leonard Inzerillo. High School North Principal Barry Goldstein is expected to be moved to High School South, and Jeff Simon, assistant principal at High School North, is to step in as acting principal, he said.

Marie Hartnett, assistant principal at High School South, will be River Plaza’s principal. Charles Bindig, principal at Ocean Avenue School, will take over at Fairview Elementary School, and Fairview Principal Diana Cantillo will move to the Ocean Avenue School.

In May, Witmer said he was thinking of moving Cantillo to another school. Cantillo’s and Lane’s names were omitted from the 2003-04 school year administrators rehiring list, recommended to the board by Witmer at its April 29 meeting.

Under pressure from parents and students who spoke in support of both principals at that meeting, Witmer changed his mind and decided to recommend the rehiring of both principals.

Lane chose not to comment on the transfers. Cantillo could not be reached for comment.

Students and parents at the July 22 regular meeting spoke about the possible transfers.

Scott Martino, a student at High School South, defended past allegations about Lane’s disciplinary measures.

"It takes a firm hand, it takes people to be very affirmative when dealing with teenagers," Martino said.

Lane has helped improve test scores and improved and supported the school’s drama club and sports teams, said High School South student Anthony Strangio.

"The man presented a five-year plan to get this school in place. Is it fair to cut him off after two years," Strangio said.

Tammy Goldberg, a teacher at Fairview, spoke on behalf of the school’s teachers in support of Cantillo.

"We strongly believe that she should remain at Fairview where she belongs," Goldberg said.

People are afraid to speak out against Cantillo for fear of retribution and have signed lists asking for her re­moval, said Seegal Anselmo, a Fairview parent.

"It’s not just a small group of us (speaking against Cantillo). There are many more," she said.

The Middletown Township Education Association has received letters of com­plaint against Lane and hope to resolve problems brought to its attention, said Linda McLaughlin, an MTEA officer.

"We’re hoping that we will be work­ing with the Board of Education in an amicable way to resolve these issues that have been raised," she said.