NEW CASTLE —
Editor, The News:
The recent decision by the New Castle school board to hire the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to conduct a national search for a superintendent is most unfortunate.
Taxpayers are paying $15,000 for an entity to make a decision that the board is duly elected to do.
As voters, if we wanted the association to make decisions regarding personnel or policy, we would have written its name in on the ballot.
Selecting a superintendent is one of the most important decisions a board member can make. Yet, we voted for present members because we have confidence in their ability to make these tough decisions. We didn’t vote for them so they can turn around and put their responsibility on someone else.
And mindless as it is, the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV does the same thing — only for free.
Unfortunately, school board members believe they have political careers to protect, as if their service is a springboard to the U.S. Senate. I hate to tell them, it’s simply community service.
Since they believe it is a political career, they don’t want to be painted with the brush of nepotism. So they hire private organizations to appear as if they are doing the right thing, when in fact — and they know this — they are doing a terrible injustice to the district.
Why? Because for all intents and purposes it eliminates the best people for the job. People like Carmen Nocera, Terry Meehan, Stan Magusiak, Debra DeBlasio, Richard Litrenta, John Mozzoccio and Joseph Anderson. Even past administrators like John Sarandrea and Jacqueline Respress can be considered.
These people in our district aren’t just good at what they do; they are outstanding and deserve a true opportunity to lead a district they have given their hearts and soul to.
Mark Elisco
Pinellas Park, Fla.
New Castle
School board expected to select superintendent
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It was a scene reminiscent of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. About 700 children left the George Washington Intermediate Elementary School and marched eight blocks to the Park Avenue tennis courts Tuesday morning after workers hit a gas line.
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Gas line rupture forces school evacuation
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New Castle students weather storm to clean up community
On a gray, rainy day, more than 270 New Castle High School students took to the streets. They took to the parks and the playgrounds, too, getting their hands wet and dirty yesterday during the annual city cleanup.
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