Letter asks for super's resignation
Toolbox
By PATRICK McARDLE Staff Writer - Published: June 29, 2009
ARLINGTON — A representative of a residents' group attended a meeting of the Arlington School Board on Wednesday and submitted a letter asking for the "immediate resignation" of Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union Superintendent Charles Sweetman, but the School Board chairman said Sweetman has the board's full support.
The letter, from the Arlington Quality Education Coalition, accuses Sweetman of violating "fiduciary responsibility" and complains about the decrease in enrollment at Arlington Memorial High School.
Jay Cavallaro, one of the founders of the coalition, said the group had not formed because of Sweetman and said their goal was not simply to see him step down.
"People are feeling like we're not in control of what's being spent. There are many different concerns here," he said.
Cavallaro said he and others in his group want a "thriving, healthy educational system in Arlington" which they think will only happen through increased enrollment. Cavallaro believes the school district should have a superintendent who is more welcoming to students from other towns or those who have been home-schooled.
Arlington School Board Chairman K. John Smith said the board would review the information submitted by the coalition but said he believed board members were "100 percent behind the administration."
"There is no merit to their accusations. … There is no reason for (Sweetman's) resignation and no reason for us to terminate his employment," Smith said.
At Wednesday's meeting, Michelle Cavallaro, Jay's wife, read the letter calling for Sweetman's resignation. The coalition complained that the only way to get issues on the School Board's agenda was through Sweetman, which coalition members believe is a conflict of interest.
Cavallaro said there were about eight to 10 people at Wednesday's meeting who came in support of the coalition. While the group will not have its first real meeting until Tuesday, Cavallaro said he had spoken with about 10 or 20 people that he believed were sympathetic to their concerns.
According to Cavallaro, he began to think about creating a formal group after learning that others in the community shared concerns he and Michelle had.
"I think there's been a lot of things coming up. There's been so many issues that people would say, 'Maybe you should talk to this other person' or 'Maybe you two should get together.' It happened fairly organically," he said.
Smith said that he thinks Arlington schools are doing very well. He believes the school district, which consists of the high school and Fisher Elementary School, has been fiscally and educationally responsible.
According to Smith, the high school has a "0 percent drop-out rate" and graduates are going to a number of challenging colleges and universities.
Smith said the School Board believes Sweetman had brought a number of valuable ideas to the district.
The coalition has already created a Web site at www.aqec.org and has plans to host its first public meeting at the Arlington town offices at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com
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