The School Committee voted 3-1 to uphold Superintendent Philip Thornton’s recommendation of non-renewal for Warwick Veterans High School assistant principal Joseph Bleczinski following a public …
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The School Committee voted 3-1 to uphold Superintendent Philip Thornton’s recommendation of non-renewal for Warwick Veterans High School assistant principal Joseph Bleczinski following a public hearing during a special committee meeting last Thursday.
Jennifer Ahearn was not present for the meeting and Karen Bachus cast the lone dissenting vote.
Bleczinski, 64, has been a member of the Warwick School Department for 18 years, serving as assistant principal at both Vets and Winman Junior High School. He is the oldest secondary assistant principal and the second longest serving administrator in the district. His salary last year was $100,913. During his time at Vets, Bleczinski said he worked on discipline, the Early Warning System, evaluated staff, monitored the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and worked on a number of other projects with fellow Vets assistant principal Timothy Kane.
According to Richard Boren, Bleczinski’s attorney, Bleczinksi received a letter from Thornton on Feb. 23 advising him he was being recommended for non-renewal and his employment with the district would cease at the end of the 2015-16 school year for reasons other than performance, which included fiscal exigency, “or urgency,” district restructure, reorganization and potential consolidation, and availability of funds.
At the March 8 school committee meeting, Bleczinski was recommended for non-renewal, which was upheld by the committee by a 4-1 vote, with Bachus dissenting. As is his right, Bleczinski chose to have the matter heard in Open Session, which took place Thursday.
“I’m here to show no fiscal exigency exists,” Boren said.
School Committee legal counsel Andrew Henneous, who represented Thornton in the case, countered, saying, “The facts are straight forward that consolidation and administration restructure is happening and has happened. The facts are abundantly clear regarding restructuring and reorganizing administration, and it’s our belief that it’s Mr. Bleczenski’s burden to prove that no restructuring or consolidation is happening and if he can’t prove that, then this case should be closed and dismissed.”
To prove his claim regarding the lack of fiscal exigency, Boren drew a comparison between the FY 16 and FY 17 adopted school department budgets to show that although each budget accounted for nine assistant principals, the total salary budgeted for assistant principals went from $888,831 in FY 16 to $895,941 in FY 17, resulting in a $7,110 increase.
Thornton said he recommended the reduction of two assistant principal administrative positions for the coming school year.
“The previous [administrative] model called for rolling forward with existing staffing levels,” he said. “I had to take a hard look at administration and I realized we had two too many [administrators] and recommended the reduction.”
Boren said he prepared a list of all assistant principals from last year as well as a list of all assistant principals for the coming year to show that although four assistant principals from FY 16 will not be serving in that capacity in FY 17, Bleczinski was the only one who was being non-renewed.
The nine assistant principals in FY 16 accounted for one at each of the three junior highs and two at each of the three high schools. The administrative structure was broken down as follows: Principal Joanne Pelletier and Assistant Principal Donna Zannelli at Winman; Principal John Livsey and Assistant Principal Allison Nascenzi at Aldrich; Principal Jeff Taylor and Assistant Principal Marie Cote at Gorton; Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz and Assistant Principals Candace Caluori and David Tober at Toll Gate; Interim Principal Pamela Bernardi and Assistant Principals Bruce Fairbanks and Chip McGair at Pilgrim; and Principal Gerry Habershaw and Assistant Principals Kane and Bleczinski at Vets.
Following the administrative restructure and reorganization, the nine assistant principals in FY 17 accounted for one at Winman, two at Vets, and three each at Pilgrim and Toll Gate. The administrative structure was broken down as follows: Principal Joanne Pelletier and Assistant Principal Donna Zannelli at Winman; Principal David Tober and Assistant Principals Allison Nascenzi and Lynn Prentiss at Warwick Vets Junior High; Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz and Assistant Principals Candice Caluori, John Livsey and Timothy Kane at Toll Gate; and Principal Gerry Habershaw and Assistant Principals Pamela Bernardi, Bruce Fairbanks and Fred Schweizer at Pilgrim.
Prior to Schweizer, who previously served as graduation by proficiency coordinator at Toll Gate, being appointed to Pilgrim, Taylor had been assigned there as the third assistant principal. However, Taylor resigned, leaving an open spot, which was filled by Schweizer.
In addition to recommending the non-renewal of Bleczinski, Thornton said he recommended non-renewing Cote as an assistant principal as well, however that recommendation was not supported by the school committee.
“I combined an existing part-time job with another position of use,” Thornton said regarding finding a position for Cote.
Boren questioned Thornton regarding the hiring of Prentiss at Vets. He said that it appeared Bleczinski was being replaced by a younger person from a different school department at a reduced salary in order to save money. Prentiss previously served as principal of Globe Park Elementary School in Woonsocket.
Thornton, who admitted that that position Prentiss was hired to fill was not posted, said Prentiss was hired due to her “excellent talent.”
When Boren asked Thornton if he knew how old Prentiss was or if he considered her younger than Bleczinski, he said he didn’t know.
“I look at the quality of the individual, not their age. Age has never had anything to do with it and it never will,” he said.
If Prentiss was hired because she was a better candidate for the position, Boren said Thornton couldn’t use that as the basis to non-renew Bleczinski.
“Mr. Bleczinski is being non-renewed for fiscal exigency, not performance. In other cases pertaining to non-renewal, it was specifically stated that it was because a better administrator could be found to do the job,” he said. “There was nothing in the notice sent to Mr. Bleczinski to suggest the cause for his non-renewal was due to [finding] a better administrator.”
Henneous reiterated that the reorganization of administration and consolidation did occur with the closing of two schools and the shifting of administrative teams from those closed schools to remaining ones. He said reorganization doesn’t necessarily have to mean reduction.
“The administration has been consolidated and reorganized; that can’t be refuted,” he said. “Two overall administrator positions were reduced in the district due to reorganization and restructure. Money was saved and re-appropriated as a result of reorganization.”
After consulting with legal counsel in another room, the school committee returned and voted 3-1 in favor of Thornton’s non-renewal recommendation.
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Imhere
Here we go again " The cover up crew" leader strikes again burying someone else in his way. Did anyone ever wonder how much would be saved if all of " the cover up crew" resigned. When Thorton and his crew let 4 girls be inappropriately touched at Norwood and did absolutely nothing about it other than send a school lawyer to court for the child who did the touching. How don't understand how the school committee goes along with anything this crew leader says. He is the puppeteer of the school dept with everyone in line like foot soliderso and his two main puppets in the Norwood cover up consists of director of elementary education Puppet 1 Lynn Dambruch and follows by the useless Puppet 2 John Gannon. School committee should wake up but, that's right Gene Nadeau knew the situation and still goes along with what this brain dead so called superintendent Philip Thorton.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Imhere,
You will recall it was Superintendant Thornton who finally caught David LaPlante stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of items he wrote checks for with taxpayer money. Dr. Thornton saw something that "looked wrong" and immediately called the police. Give him credit for that one. It had been going on for years apparently and he was the "solution" rather than a continuation of the problem. For the record, I don't always agree with him but I don't think he "let 4 girls be inappropriately touched". How could he or anyone have prevented it. I would recommend you call him and ask for an update. I have found him to be approachable. If you try and fail call me at 402-338-9900. We'll try again, together. In the meantime please join us at my fundraiser at Lemongrass this Monday August 8th, 1138 Post Rd. from 5 to 8 P.M. and visit my website at www.correntemayorwarwick.com
Stay well Imhere.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Report this
Imhere
Mr. Corrente the sheets are over your eyes with this incompetent Phil Thorton. Everything you comment you think he is a hero for bagging Laplante, well for the record Laplante'so wife is also a teacher and remains that way like she had no idea. Like I told you before 4 girls were touched and it's on record, but they say nothing happened. If you watched The Hummel report on the story and listened to recordings you would get it. Go to Jim hummels Website and the title is " looking for answers".
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Mr. Corrente, have you watched the Hummel Report story that "imhere" is referring to? I can't even imagine you have, because if you did you would not be lining up in support of Dr. Thornton. The only word that can be used is cover-up. To say that he bares no responsibility for this is beyond false.
You often take shots at the mayor saying he doesn't have children, he doesn't understand the school system. Well if this is the type of insight you have into our schools than we have much bigger issues.
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
Imhere
@scal1024 you are correct Mr. Corrente makes his comment and at the end it comes down to his fundraiser or campaign. Phil Thorton and his puppets need to be exposed for the lies and cover ups they perform. What happened at Norwood should have never happened and when it did these incompetent people turned their back on all victims and offered support for the boy who caused this issue. Norwood went down hill when John Gannon took the reigns and Phil Thorton can't even keep his administration in check. The police said they couldn't do anything because the school dept is the experts and know a child's behavior, it's ridiculous that I have to public shame the puppeteer and his puppets because they are trying hard to cover it up.
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
Call me crazy, but since when is an employer required to renew a contract? Administrators are contracted employees, typically for 3 year periods. When the contract ends, they are free to leave or reapply. Conversely, the employer may extend a new contract offer or not. Finances need not have anything to do with it.
Imhere sure seems to have an ax to grind with the Supt. What's the real issue?
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
And what's this Greenwood Elementary story? Were the alleged perpetrators kids, faculty, staff? It makes a BIG difference. Anybody have a link to an article? This is kinda important ya know?
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
Imhere
@thatguyinri let me start by saying it was Norwood Elementary and not Greenwood. Here is the link then you will understand. http://bit.ly/1UkBO7n
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
Thanks Imhere, very interesting story.
The problem(s) here are the effed up laws in RI.
If the offender is a special needs student, and their behavior is "part of their disability" there is NOTHING you can do from a disciplinary standpoint. So if the student's "disability" causes them to grab people's behinds, they CANNOT be disciplined for it. Sure, the school can do their best to keep them apart, but there are literally no ramifications for the behavior because after all, they have a "disability."
If you want to change something, don't waste your time with the Superintendent, it's the idiots at the state house you need to hector.
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
Imhere
@thatguyinri it's a very sad story, you are right it is the laws. But the water these nitwits handled it was unacceptable on all levels. There are recordings of all 3 of them agreeing and then all the sudden they do an about face and say the girls were lying. Why do you think Thorton has been bounced around from district to district, Lynn Dambruch was a principal and now and administrator and John Gannon has been bounced around as well and one good reason for that he is useless. They are where they are because they are Thortons puppets and jump when told because deep down they know there is an issue but don't have the morals or dignity to stand up for what's right. In 10 years with the path this unruly children is on her will be on the registry and he can think these incompetent waste of tax payer money and I can't stress that enough!!! They should all be ashamed of themselves.
Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
Shocking as this may be, I'm certain that all the facts are not out in the public domain. You know, confidentiality laws and all.
That being said, we can likely all agree that something happened, and that it sucks, but exactly what happened, and who is responsible are things we'll likely never know.
If you want to blame the supt. for that, or anyone else, by all means have at it. But any assigning of blame is pure speculation. Again, see aforementioned effed up laws.
Friday, August 5, 2016 Report this
Imhere
@thatguyinri just a little fyi I'm the parent I know what happened and I will be contacting all reps at the state house but I won't let up on "the cover up crew" they are complete scum how they handled this. Thorton, Dambruch, and Gannon are such a waste is criminal.
Friday, August 5, 2016 Report this