At the most recent meeting of the Evesham Township Board of Education, the board approved the hiring of Richard Dantinne Jr. as the new director of personnel, but not without some discussion.
Board member Sandy Student focused on the main point of contention regarding Dantinne’s hiring, namely a 2011 report from the state attorney general’s office regarding unlawful discrimination in the Franklin Township School District.
Dantinne was most recently principal of the Main Road School in Franklin Township, and in the report Student referenced, Dantinne is one of two school principals named along with two superintendents.
The report states the state attorney general’s office found probable cause to charge the Franklin Township Board of Education with unlawful discrimination in regard to the district’s response to racially charged remarks made by several students against another student in that district from 2005–2009.
“Is this the best person for the job?” Student questioned.
Superintendent John Scavelli Jr. immediately responded he did believe Dantinne was the best person for the job and asked Student if he knew any of the details of that case.
Student said all he had was what he downloaded off the Internet.
Scavelli went on to ask Student if there were other officials named in the report, and when Student said there were two principals and two superintendents mentioned by name, Scavelli said he was in fact one of the superintendents.
“I’m one of the superintendents, I am, and I know very well about that case and I know very well the details of that case, and I don’t appreciate you passing judgment here,” Scavelli said.
Scavelli went on to say the Evesham School District has litigation currently in the district and even he himself has lawsuits against him currently from those who feel he had discriminated in some way.
Board member JoAnne Harmon asked if it was common for school administration officials to be named in lawsuits, and Scavelli said it was.
“If you’ve been an administrator any number of years, you’re going to have lawsuits against you,” Scavelli said. “If you’ve been doing your job, you’re going to have lawsuits against you, unfortunately.”
Acting board solicitor Andrew Linenberg made a similar point, and said the fact someone may have been named in a report does not necessarily prove there was any wrongdoing.
“Anytime any school district gets sued, it’s normal course for the plaintiffs to sue any of the administrative staff, staff of the particular building, the entire administrative staff, both individually and in their official capacity,” Linenberg said.
Student also questioned if Dantinne would be able to handle the difference of going from a staff of nearly 65 people to being in charge of personnel for the almost 900 people who work for the ETSD.
Scavelli said he believed Dantinne would.
“I came from that district to this district, and I feel I’ve made out pretty well, Mr. Student,” Scavelli said.
Student also questioned why Scavelli stayed strictly within the educational sphere and did not look to other professional backgrounds to find a new candidate.
“We are an educational system,” Scavelli said. “We are a school district. I did not want somebody from the business world coming in and hiring our teachers.
“I wanted an educator coming in and evaluating and hiring our teachers.”
Scavelli’s statement was met with applause from many members of the audience.
Except for Student, all board members present at the meeting approved Dantinne’s hiring.
According to Scavelli, it was his recommendation that Dantinne be hired for the position because Scavelli’s administrative team lacked anyone with school principal experience.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at DeMasi Middle School.
