Although the Board of Education’s reorganization meeting is a yearly routine, the most recent meeting on April 21 brought out a crowd, some to say good bye to departing board member Doug MacCormack, others to observe, if not cheer, the arrival of community activist Tom Troyer after 25 years away.
Within eight minutes of taking his seat, Troyer managed to send the board into a fit of internal conflict when he nominated himself for the position of board president. His remarks, more than his gall, drew the wrath of several board members who accursed him of continuing the election diatribe after the election was over.
While pre-meeting reports suggested a battle for the board presidency could take place, few expected the fight to be between Troyer and Amico.
Amico, as vice president last year, was slated to take the post of presidency this year as a matter of tradition. Reports before the meeting, however, suggested a possible move by last year’s president Bill Millevoi to seek a second term. This last happened in 1997 when Angelo Andriani held the presidency for two consecutive years, using it as a platform for his failed council bid later that year.
Troyer, in challenging the nomination of Paul Amico as president, claimed he had more experience with six years previously served on the school board (which was 25 years ago) as well as 43 years as a teacher. He also said that as a retired person he would have time to dedicate to the job.
“The results of the school board election showed that people wanted to have a change on the board,” Troyer said. Troyer questioned a pre-election letter to the editor that Amico had published in support of incumbents Anthony Rinaldi and Michael Schlemm, who were re-elected when Troyer was elected. Troyer said he questioned Amico’s ability to be impartial.
In an exchange that bordered on the ludicrous, Amico attempted to explain his intentions, as other board members fumed over Troyer’s remarks.
A clearly angry Rinaldi blasted Troyer, claiming that his and Schlemm’s re-election showed significant support by the public, despite the voters’ rejection of the school budget on April 17.
Playing a role less hostile, board member Edward Rittberg said he didn’t question Troyer’s right to nominate himself for president, but said the election should not have a bearing on the nomination.
“I thing bringing politics into this process is in bad taste,” he said. “It tends to antagonize the eight other board members.”
Outgoing board president Bill Millevoi told Troyer that people had to leave the election behind them.
“It doesn’t matter how you got here,” he said. “Once a board member, it is important to act like a board member. We all have differing philosophies, but we all have one goal in mind and that’s the kids.”
Rittberg praised Amico, noting how much Amico had done to make himself a better board member.
“Most people don’t know this, but Paul actually took classes to make himself a better board member,” Rittberg said. “As a board member, he has worked very hard.”
Amico was named president by an 8 to 1 majority. Edward Rittberg was elected vice president, putting him in line for possible presidency next year.
Amico’s picks for committee
In a move nearly as unorthodox as Troyer’s, Amico acted quickly to name board members to various committees, rather than wait until the next official meeting of the board. This, he said, would allow the committees to get down to work right away without delay.
• School Government Committee: Eleanore Reinl, chair, with Rittberg and Millevoi on the committee.
• Buildings & Grounds Committee: Rinaldi, chair, with Rittberg and Schlemm
• Technology Committee: Schlemm, chair, with Michael Pesci and Rinaldi.
• Finance Committee: Pesci, chair, Schlemm and Troyer
• Negotiating Committee: Millevoi, chair, John Voli and Amico
• Shared Services Committee: Rittberg, chair, Millevoi and Voli
• Policy Committee: Voli, chair, Pesci and Millevoi
• Adult School Committee: Reinl
• Legislative Committee: Troyer
• Athletic/Band Liaison: Voli
Farewell to MacCormack
In what proved to be a particularly moving moment, departing board member Doug MacCormack recounted his days on the board and the number of people with whom he had worked over his nine-year stretch.
He talked about his first election and the times since, saying it had been a pleasure working with the current board, particularly Pesci, Schlemm and Amico, and how much he would miss the excitement of the board. He promised that when he returned to elective office he would seek election to the Board of Education again, dispelling rumors he might be seeking a council seat next year.
MacCormack – who has been blamed for the part he played in negotiating high raises for some administrators last year – found himself in a lovefest, as former board advisors heaped praise upon him, although the most surprising tribute came from Millevoi, with whom MacCormack most often “butted heads.” Millevoi said MacCormack always had the best interest of the school children in mind, even when adamantly disagreeing with other board members. Rittberg called MacCormack a “sharp and argumentative” person who “took the board to the limit on many issues.”
“But in the end of every argument, he did what was best for the kids,” Rittberg said. “Doug generated heated discussion, but provoked thought about whatever issue he argued for.”
Rinaldi said MacCormack “always had his heart in the right place.”
“He was a pioneer on this board, someone who knew how to work and knew how to take the lead on an issue, even when it was not popular do to do,” he said. “He has all the characteristics and qualities you would want in a board member.”
Joining the parade of admirees that included Voli, Pesci, Schlemm and Schools Superintendent Constantino Scerbo was former board member Phil Passante, who recalled his own pleasure at serving on the board with MacCormack, crediting MacCormack with being the powerhouse behind many of the advances the school district made over the last decade.