School Board Talk Gets Testy On District's Hiring Process (VIDEO)

It appears the issue of how the district selects and hires its administrators is still a contentious one for the .

At Tuesday night's , some school board members entered into an at times heated exchange with one another over the process  used to hire the .

Board Policy 'Violated'?

The argument began after board member Charles Scalesse asked that an item allowing the discussion of the district's administrator hiring policy be added to the meeting's agenda.

Once the item was added, Scalesse said he felt the board had "violated" its own policy by only putting forward one name — and not two — for consideration as final candidates for the the new head of pupil services.

Scalesse pointed out that during the board's personnel subcommittee meeting on May 14, the members had agreed to put forward at least two candidates for all new administrative openings within the district.

Then, from there, Superintendent Anthony Serio would choose one final name to recommend to the full school board for approval. (See the May 14 meeting minutes posted in the gallery that accompanies this article.)

Past Controvery

Scalesse — referring to the controversy that erupted two years ago when school board member Ronald DeNuzzo's son was recommended by the search committee and Serio for principal — said the board had decided to follow this new policy because of suggested "improprieties" that had occurred in the past.

Vincent DeNuzzo's recommendation was ultimately not approved by the school board at that time.

'The Process'

Scalesse said Tuesday he wasn't questioning the candidate chosen or the administrator's qualifications, but the selection process itself.

"The process is: bring forward two candidates. We did not. That's my point. You came forward with one candidate. And that violated our policy, our discussion that was mentioned in that last board meeting May 22," he said.

The Policy's 'Intension'

But School Board Chairman Thomas Hennessey responded, saying the committee's search ultimately determined there was only one final candidate that was qualified and acceptable for the post.

"The whole purpose is we didn't want the committee to force the superintendent's hand," Hennessey said of setting the new hiring process policy.

"The whole intent here is that he's not forced to hire the name the committee comes up with," he said, referring to the superintendent.

Scalesse then responded that perhaps the committee should have reposted the position, in order to get additional, qualified candidates interested in the position.

Executive Session

The discussion was eventually moved into an executive session (see the video posted in the gallery). But the argument continued, with some school board members' voices raised loud enough to be heard outside the meeting room and into the hallway.

BOE member Kristan Vineyard stepped out of the room during that portion of the executive session's discussion. She eventually returned to the room, however, when the topic moved to the for the assistant superintendent of schools and district's parent educator.

Once the executive session was over, board members quickly cast their votes to approve both extentions — and the meeting was then adjourned.