Schools

Vicari To Berkeley School Board: Start Looking For Another Superintendent

He plans to step down on March 31, cites political interference

He's done.

Berkeley schools announced tonight he will step down on March 31 and told the school board to begin a search for a new superintendent immediately.

"I will not be serving as superintendent because of some controversy," Vicari said at the Feb. 9 board meeting. "I will be leaving at the end of next month."

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Vicari said he had received stellar evaluations from all of the board members in February, with the except of . He said he could not continue without the full support of all board members.

"I will not entertain any kind of extension of my contract," Vicari said. "The evaluation by Mrs. Parks was not what I expected."

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Vicari said earlier this year he would be stepping down before the April school board elections. But the school elections have now been moved to November.

Vicari had served as Berkeley schools superintendent for six years when he  returned to the district on April 1, 2011 after a two-year absence.

A previous board in 2008 refused to renew his contract. Vicari has always contended the move was engineered by the Democratic majority on the board and was illegal.

Before he returned in 2011, . But state law requires that a certified school administrator be paid a minimum salary of $18,500.

He told the board last night that his reduced salary was a "one-time revenue" for the district.

"It's obvious this board must put money in for a new superintendent," he said.

"I would just like to ask our superintendent once again to stay a little longer," Board Vice-President James Fulcomer said. "Since he is such a great philanthropist, I hope he will agree to a resolution to extend his stay at our next meeting. We certainly are not in a position to get a replacement at this time."

Vicari also mentioned ethics charges that Parks filed with the state School Ethics Commission against .

"We don't need that kind of controversy in Berkeley Township," Vicari said.

Parks and former board member Patrick Riley filed an ethics complaint against Pellicchia in late December 2010 and later amended it in February 2011. The two claimed that Pellecchia had violated state school ethics laws by participating in a vote to bring Vicari back as superintendent while he (Pellecchia) was an seasonal employee of the Ocean County Board of Elections.

The state School Ethics Commission found that Pellechia had violated state statues by participating in the vote and making the motion to appoint Vicari, who is also an Ocean County Freeholder.

"...the Commission finds that this record supports the conclusion that he had an indirect financial involvement with the Board of Chose Freeholders as the funding source for the Board of Elections in Ocean County, and consequently with Joseph Vicari, who sits on the Board of Chosen Freeholders," the ethics commission ruled. "A board member's presence and participation in a discussion where he is conflicted is sufficient to sustain a finding of violation."

The commission recommended that Pellecchia be reprimanded.

Vicari came to Pellecchia's defense at the board meeting.

"Mr. Pellecchia does not work for me," he said. "He works for the Election Board. I never voted for him to work part-time."

Vicari said after the meeting he abstains on votes for the Board of Elections listed on the freeholder meeting agendas.

He told board members that his return to the district had saved the district a substantial amount of money because his salary is $18,500 a year. He warned them that a new superintendent could cost up to $220,000 a year, including health benefits and travel expenses.

"I don't think there is anyone in this entire town who is more disappointed you are leaving," Pellecchia said. "It's a job that's thankless. I wish we could keep you here. We could use the money."

In other business, the board voted to elect Pellecchia board president for the remainder of the year. The vacancy was created when former Board President James J. Byrnes was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Township Council. Parks cast the lone no vote.

Board members also selected board member James Fulcomer to serve as board vice president for the rest of 2012.

What do you think of Vicari stepping down? Tell us in the comments section


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