Schools: Howard as victim? Green as hero? Who's the villain?

Everyone would like to have more light shed on the circumstances surrounding the sudden resignation of Schools Superintendent Paula Howard.

For better or worse, personnel matters are often handled out of public view because of state law and/or privacy rights.

That does not prevent rumors from swirling, and the situation can often be exacerbated by one or another parties to a dispute going to the media, not to mention persons who perceive some gain in dragging red herrings around.

The Board of Education's strict adherence to the rules of fair play may be laudable, but is probably leaving it at a disadvantage as the story unfolds.

Consider the following --

• Who went to the Ledger with the news of Howard's resignation before any formal announcement could be made? And why?
  
  
• Who set up the meeting with County Superintendent Centuolo at Assemblyman Green's office? And who put together the list of invitees?
  
  
• Where did the idea come from that the Board would not be able to address handling the district's finances in a timely and effective fashion? Or that the state should intervene?
  

The flash point seems to have come around the hiring of a replacement for Business Administrator Victor Demming, who left to go to East Orange.

The Business Administrator/Board Secretary is a dual office -- as business administrator, the person reports to the Superintendent, as board secretary they report to the Board of Education. In any event, ALL hires in the school district are accomplished by Board resolutions on nominations by the Superintendent. To this bystander, it would seem that the Board's due diligence would include -- at the least -- checking out a candidate's resume.

That is why it is interesting that the rumor mill says Dr. Howard refused to submit the curriculum vitae (= resume) of her nominee for Business Administrator -- Evan ('Steve') Gillingham -- to the Board when requested. And that when pressed, she verbally resigned. Would that explain the BLANK resolution Bernice noted at the June 5 meeting?

The rumor mill has it that there may be substantive reasons why the Board had questions about appointing Gillingham. Will we ever find out?

Then there is the matter of the resignation of Angie Chiaravalloti, Dr. Howard's principal aide.

In a letter that is rumored to have been widely distributed -- to Commissioner of Education Lucille Davey, Assemblyman Jerry Green, Mayor Robinson-Briggs, County Superintendent Centuolo, and the District's administrative staff and principals, as well as Board members -- Chiaravalloti supposedly alluded to another potentially embarrassing matter: the District's Human Resources management situation.

Talk of the town for months has been that the head of HR, Lynne Antonucci, has not been seen in the office since February or March of 2006, but is still on the payroll. Is Chiaravalloti attempting to call this to the attention of the state? Why?

What is the media's role?

What we have here is a controversy. Media love controversy because it drives reader interest.

However, if you have been around a while, you probably already know the script that is being worked out: Victim, Villain, and Hero. (Think Saturday movie serials if you're old enough, or Dudley Do-Right.)

From where I sit, it seems that some people are trying to portray Paula Howard as the 'victim.'

And Assemblyman Green and former school board member Debbie Myers as the 'heroes.'

Villain? The Board of Ed?

I don't think they are, but if the Board doesn't wake up and do something other than refuse to comment, I'm afraid that's the way it will play out.

The facts notwithstanding.

---

Media coverage --

Tuesday - June 5

• Plaintalker: "BOE Meeting a Bust" -- Bernice documents an odd, 'unproductive' meeting.

Thursday - June 7

• Ledger: "Schools leader quits in Plainfield" -- Who went to the Ledger?
• Plaintalker: "Howard Resigns?"
• Plainfield Today: "What next for the schools?" -- Dan checks out the hyperventilating.

Friday - June 8

• Courier: "Howard says tension in district forcing her to step down"
• Plaintalker: "Howard is Out, Carter is In" -- Bernice on the emergency meeting.

Sunday - June 10

• Courier: "Plainfield fills school posts" -- The fateful emergency Board meeting.
  
• Ledger: "Abbott district in chaos, legislator says" -- The Ledger is two steps behind everyone.
  
• Plaintalker: "Where's the "Public" in Public Education?" -- About meetings and publicizing them.
  

Wednesday - June 13

• Ledger: "Filling of 2 top posts eases Plainfield crisis" -- Transcribed by Plainfield Today.
• Courier: "Few attend Plainfield school board meeting" -- Transcribed by Plainfield Today

-- Dan Damon

View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/