By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
Changes in the Division of Teaching and Learning will enable the New Haven Unified School District to increase services to students, enhance safety and better manage risk -- while saving two classified positions and reducing the impact on the general fund -- Superintendent Kari McVeigh announced today.
With Director of Pupil Services Don Montoya retiring in June, the Board of Education on Tuesday night approved the appointment of Scott Pizani as Director of Student Intervention Services, responsible for the English Language Learner program, academic interventions in kindergarten through 12th grade, suspensions and expulsions, among other duties. Mr. Pizani, who was principal at Emanuele Elementary when the school made an impressive 39-point gain on its API score in 2005 and later served as the District’s Coordinator of Prevention and Intervention Services, has spent the past two years as Director of Instructional Support.
The Board also approved the appointment of Alvarado Middle School Principal John Mattos as Coordinator of District Safety, Risk Management and Enrollment. Mr. Mattos, formerly principal at Eastin Elementary School and before that a house principal at James Logan High School, will be responsible for school site safety plans, emergency preparedness, energy conservation plans, risk management, complaints and enrollment.
“Over the past few years, the Director of Pupil Services has taken on multiple responsibilities as other positions have been reduced,” Superintendent McVeigh said. “In some other areas, such as risk management, we’ve had to be reactive rather than proactive. These changes will enable us to better serve our students and their families.”
The reorganization, designed by Chief Academic Officer Wendy Gudalewicz, takes maximum advantage of categorical funds and reduces the impact on the general fund by approximately $40,000. It also includes the addition of a secretary at the Cabello Student Support Center and a clerk to support health and medical programs, both being funded primarily through MediCal. Those changes will enable the District to retain two classified employees who might otherwise have been impacted by the classified and management layoffs necessitated by the state’s latest round of cuts to public education.
With Mr. Mattos’ move, the District has begun the search for three new principals for 2010-11 school year. Pioneer Elementary School Principal Joanne Stanley is retiring in June, and the Board on Tuesday night also accepted the resignation of Eastin Elementary School Principal Penny Loetterle.
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