Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-principals-Onorato

Full Text:

Principal Shake-Up Affects Two Elementary Schools

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Parents and teachers are being notified this week about Superintendent John R.

Reed's shake-up of elementary school principals this summer.

Dr Reed announced at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting his decision to

shift a pair of school principals to new sites within the district, starting

with Head O' Meadow School Principal Nancy Onorato, who has been transferred

to the middle school as an assistant principal, effective at the start of the

school year.

Ms Onorato will be replaced at Head O' Meadow with Middle Gate School

Principal Bill Bircher. A search has already begun to fill Mr Bircher's post.

In the meantime, Dr Reed said Assistant Superintendent Bob Kuklis would assume

responsibility for the operation of Middle Gate School.

"This will certainly be a transition period, but I'm confident that there will

be a common perception throughout the school system that this was a good

move," the superintendent said Wednesday morning.

Announcements regarding the principal shuffle were scheduled to be sent out to

parents and staff members late this week.

Dr Reed said over the past year, he had been discussing moving Mrs Onorato

back to the middle school, where she worked as an administrator prior to

arriving at HOM six years ago. The schools chief declined to elaborate on the

reasons behind the switch, but said both he and the HOM principal felt it was

in the best interest of the school district.

"Nancy and I both agreed that she would be most effective at the middle

school," Dr Reed explained.

The schools chief refused to call the move a demotion, but said Mrs Onorato's

annual salary would be reduced to that of an assistant principal.

"I requested this about a year ago," Mrs Onorato explained Wednesday

afternoon. "I've always been very, very happy at the middle school. For me it

feels like a homecoming."

Dr Reed said he switched Mr Bircher to Head O' Meadow School once the

principal post opened up in an effort to provide him with a new challenge.

"That school (HOM) will benefit, although some people on staff won't think

it," Dr Reed said. "Bill inspires the loyalty of his staff through the

dedication that he brings."

Mr Bircher leaves Middle Gate after a 12-year stint as principal.

Dr Reed said a Middle Gate School teacher would be selected to assist Mr

Kuklis during the transitional process, and school secretary Carol Lawson will

also take on added responsibilities.

This is the first time Dr Reed has made such drastic changes with his

principals, but said it is been something he's thought about doing in the

past.

"I wanted to maximize the effectiveness of everyone involved. I want what's in

the best interest of the kids," he explained.

Board of Education Chairman Herb Rosenthal said the principal shuffle will be

a "healthy" move for the district. He pointed out that there is now new

leadership at Head O' Meadow, Middle Gate and Sandy Hook School, where Donna

Page recently took over the principalship for Ron Vitarelli, who stepped down

last year.