Sulc Outlines Administrative Restructuring

Massapequa school superintendent Charles Sulc outlined a massive restructuring of district administrative positions Thursday night, which will  bring new principals to six schools.

Sulc laid out his recommendations before the Board of Education, which had already approved them in executive session on May 27, he said.

Under the plan, both campuses of Massapequa High School will get new principals, as will Berner Middle School,  as well as Fairfield, Lockhart and McKenna elementary schools.

"We want to build a better team," Sulc said. "We can't be accepting of where we're at, we always need to move forward."

The most controversial move is the transfer of Lockhart principal Lori Dano to Fairfield.  She will be replaced by Stepehen Scarallo the current principal at Berner Middle school. Fairfield principal Jason Esposito will take the reigns at Berner, while  Scarallo will be the fifth principal at Lockhart in twelve years.

At the board meeting, Sulc reiterated many of the points he made during a Wednesday talk with Lockhart parents who are upset by the move,.

"It's unfortunate that I can't get as specific as I'd like to get because there are issues that are associated with personnel, " he told the audience at the board meeting.

"I know it's hard because there's a trust factor that's associated with this, but we do believe we're going to be in a better position."

One trustee, Timothy Taylor, expressed his disapproval of moving Dano saying," I see no reason to create this unnecessary upheaval. "

While agreeing with the other moves in the restructuring plan Taylor said that Dano, "had the confidence of all the parents in Lockhart as well as the respect of the faculty and staff of the school. "

Other moves announced by Sulc included the creation of an Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, who will oversee special education, guidance, school psychologists and social workers.  That position will be filled by Dr. James Grossane, the current principal at Massapequa High School's main campus.  He'll be replaced  by Dr. Barbara Williams, the principal at the high school's Ames Campus.

Grossane will be assisted by Jean Castelli, the current principal at McKenna Elementary School, who will fill the newly created position of Executive Assistant for Student Support Services.  

The vacancies at Ames and McKenna have not been filled. 

Several Lockhart parents remained angry at the decision to change principals. "Our children need continuity," said Cathy Scutellaro, who has two children in the school.  "That's priority number one."

"I think it's ridiculous that parents of McKenna students will have a say in who their new principal is going to be," said Sharon Zulch, referring to a promise made during the board meeting, "But parents at Lockhart have no say whatsoever."