Schools
Gifted and Talented Program Could Be Saved, Vicari Says
Berkeley schools superintendent says savings from his salary could keep several teachers on payroll
There’s still hope for the Berkeley Township School District’s gifted and talented and Operation Schoolhouse programs.
If Superintendent Joseph Vicari has his way, both will be reinstated at the June 9 Board of Education meeting, Vicari said in a recent interview.
“If I stay at $45 a day they could save those jobs,” Vicari said.
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He referred to nine positions that were cut in March, before the budget was defeated by voters on April 27. Vicari returned to the district on April 1, at a salary of $18,500 a year. A superintendent's salary could run upwards of $180,000 a year, he said.
Vicari had offered to return free of charge. But state law requires that certified school administrators be paid a salary. So he took the minimum salary possible - $18,500, with no benefits.
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The nine positions that are slated to be eliminated include two gifted and talented teachers, two resource center teachers, one psychologist, three classroom teachers and a speech therapist.
Vicari said his return to the district at a nominal pay will be worth it if the money goes to save teacher’s jobs and programs and the money is given back to the taxpayers.
The gifted and talented program not only helps students, it increases property values, he said.
"Test scores improve," he said. "Educated people look at test scores. The way to keep high test scores is to keep those students who excel. We want to maintain a level of competency. We offer an above average education. That’s one of the reasons I went back.”
Vicari had previously served as superintendent for six years. His contract was not renewed in 2008, a move Vicari has said was politically motivated by some board members and local and county Democratic organization officials. He left the district in June 2009, when his contract expired.
A previous board appointed Arlene J. Lippincott to serve as interim superintendent, then authorized board attorney John C. Sahradnik to begin contract negotiations with her last October. But in December, board President James J. Brynes and board member John Bacchione approached Vicari and asked him to return.
While some have questioned Vicari's motives for returning, he has repeatedly said he came back solely to help the district out in difficult financial times.
