New Castle News

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

August 26, 2008

Education association defends Bartolomeo

By MaryAlice Meli

The Pennsylvania State Education Association intends to file a grievance protesting the suspension of Ellwood City kindergarten teacher Ann Bartolomeo.

The Ellwood City Area School Board Wednesday denied Bartolomeo�s request for an unpaid leave of absence and, instead suspended her without pay.

The suspension is retroactive to Aug. 9, the date on which Bartolomeo voluntarily surrendered her teaching certificate to the state Board of Education while it investigates a complaint against her.

The board is expected to rule on her suspension Sept. 23 after a reinstatement hearing Sept. 22 before the state board �s Professional Standards and Practices Commission.

Todd Park, PSEA legal field manager, said the association�s action opposes the Ellwood board�s position that it could not grant Bartolomeo�s request for a leave since, without certification, she no longer is an employee.

�The association will be filing a grievance on the decision to suspend Ann and/or deny her the leave,� Park said. �We�re going to request that the grievance be held in abeyance, pending the decision by the Professional Standards and Practices Commission.�

However, he said yesterday that he had just spoken with district solicitor, John DeCaro Jr., who assured him that if Bartolomeo is recertified by Sept. 23, she will be reinstated to her kindergarten teaching position at Perry Elementary.

�It�s a very positive sign that the district will reinstate her if she gets her certificate back,� Park said.

Judge Richard A. Lewis of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on Thursday ordered that Bartolomeo be released from her sentence of 12 months probation after six months.

She had paid the $3,000 in fines and $738.50 in court costs.

After Wednesday�s meeting, Frank Aloi, district superintendent, said an anonymous complaint had been filed with the state board about Bartolomeo�s having faced criminal charges and having pleaded no contest to lying to a grand jury.

The criminal charges alleged that Bartolomeo and her daughter, Alissa Lemmon, accepted $27,000 in state earnings for work they could not prove they did for Bartolomeo�s brother, former state Rep. Frank LaGrotta. He had hired them after losing the 2006 primary election to remove constituents� private information such as social security numbers from stored records.

Under the state�s Professional Educators Discipline Act, the Professional Standards and Practices Commission is comprised of 13 members appointed by the governor to three-year terms. The commission meets six times a year. The Act requires the members to include seven teachers, including one educational specialist; three public school administrators, one administrator of a teacher preparation program and two members of the general public, one of whom must be a school director.

Park said Bartolomeo, who underwent foot surgery a week ago, is covered by the district�s health insurance until the end of August, since teachers earn 12 months of coverage from the preceding year�s work. Beyond that, he said, Bartolomeo may continue health coverage at her own cost under COBRA, a federal program that allows employees to receive health insurance benefits at group rates.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • money.jpg City pension fund sees gain in final quarter

    The city of New Castle’s employee pension fund gained in value during the last quarter of 2011. The gain is attributed to a strong showing in the stock market during the period following poor performance in the previous three months.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Judge denies new trial in McGaffic case

    Senior Judge Michael J. Wherry has denied a new trial regarding a property in downtown New Castle. In an order of court handed down yesterday, Wherry denied a new trial “because the plaintiffs lack standing as explained in the order of court dated Dec. 21, 2011.”

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Olszak.jpg Mitchel Olszak: Scammers learn to feed off human fear

    A few weeks ago, my computer went crazy. Boxes filled with warning notices and ominous-looking yellow triangles popped up on my screen, to tell me my system was filled with dangerous viruses. I was in imminent danger of having all sorts of personal information, passwords and financial data stolen.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • manna.jpg John K. Manna: State Supreme Court explains fault with redistricting plan

    A couple of things: We finally have an opinion. A week after it threw out a redistricting plan for state legislative districts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court released its opinion yesterday.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mitchell.jpg Elected councilman contests disqualification

    A New Castle City Council candidate contends he should not be disqualified from holding office because he is seeking clemency.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ramsey.jpg Dave Ramsey: Proper insurance can transfer risk

    “Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • City planning OKs school addition

     The New Castle Planning Commission has recommended a conditional use be granted for a school addition. The New Castle Area School District plans to construct an addition to the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center and create an early learning center.

    February 3, 2012

  • money.jpg Mortgage rates trigger surge in buying, refinancing

    Some sectors of the economy may still be sluggish, but the housing market in Lawrence County isn’t one of them. Mortgage loans, both for refinancing and home purchases, are up significantly in the last several months in the county, according to local banks and real estate agents.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brothers.jpg Lori Brothers: Organic is good, but it’s not always necessary

    How often do you have a great conversation with your produce man? I encourage it. I got quite an explanation about how organic veggies are handled. I also found out there are certain guidelines about where they can even be located to be sold as “organic.”

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mastrangelo.jpg Our Opinion, Part 2: Mayor’s hiring of his son raises more serious questions

    If you ask New Castle residents to identify the biggest problem in local government, one word will stand out:
    Nepotism. The term, of course, refers to the hiring of one’s relatives for positions, regardless of the fact others are equally — or more — deserving of available positions.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo 1 Story