Date: Fri 16-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

school-board-Salvatore

Full Text:

School Board Hires New Middle School Vice Principal

BY JEFF WHITE

Another change to the middle school's administration was approved July 13, as

the Newtown Board of Education (BOE) voted to hire Anthony J. Salvatore as the

new vice principal to replace Frank Arnone.

"We think that he will accept and promote high standards for himself, the

staff, and the students," Superintendent of Schools John Reed said in a

recommendation given to the school board. "His excellent experience as a

classroom teacher will hold him in good stead with our middle school staff."

Over the past four years, Mr Salvatore has been teaching eighth grade English

full time at Har-Bur Middle School in Burlington, and has been responsible for

facilitating and developing curriculum and teaming approaches with other

teachers and specialists in the school.

Mr Salvatore's teaching experience dates back to 1977, when he taught English

at Bristol Central High School. Since then, he has also held various teaching

posts at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington.

Mr Salvatore's administrative experience includes part time work as a

Connecticut State Assessor over the past three years, where he helped to

assess beginning teachers. For seven years he served as president for

Connecticut District 10 Regional Educational Association.

Dr Reed cited Mr Salvatore's administrative experience as an important

attribute. "As a trained assessor, he has gained valuable experience working

with beginning teachers to help them analyze their strengths and weaknesses as

they work toward state certification," Dr Reed said.

Currently, Mr Salvatore is enrolled in a doctoral program in Educational

Leadership at the University of Hartford, and holds both masters and bachelor

degrees from Central Connecticut State University and the University of

Connecticut, respectively.

Mr Salvatore will replace vice principal Frank Arnone, who has accepted a job

as principal in Greenwich.

This is the latest change in the middle school' administration. The last

change was the appointment of Diane Sherlock as new principal. Ms Sherlock

began her work as principal on Monday of this week, and said she was "looking

forward to working with [Mr Salvatore]."

Mr Salvatore is slated to start at the middle school no later than August 1.

"As a result of the interview process, we see in Tony a person who has

demonstrated a keen interest in many of the things we are very involved in as

a school system," said Dr Reed. "He has high energy, integrity, and

commitment."

In other business Tuesday night, the school board continued a dialogue on two

key issues that they will focus on in the coming months: a schoolwide cheating

policy and the development of a 5/6 school.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Robert Kuklis entertained suggested

revisions for a comprehensive cheating policy, during the policy's second

reading Tuesday night. The policy seeks to address the multiple ways cheating

occurs in schools under a single "action plan" for dealing with offenders,

along with acknowledging and protecting those who choose not to cheat.

The 5/6 school issue was also addressed in the wake of the official proposals

made by the developers vying for the purchase of Fairfield Hills on Monday.

One developer, Becker and Becker Associates (B&B), has a specific site in mind

for a 5/6 school.

Board members agreed that further information and a possible tour of Cochran

House, which B&B hopes to renovate into a 5/6 school, will be necessary before

they would be able to endorse renovating an existing building, or constructing

a brand new school.