Residents at Thursday’s Crestwood school board meeting questioned transparency, citing limited disclosure about the superintendent’s separation agreement.
They also raised concerns about the vetting process for a successor.
A letter announcing Superintendent Natasha Milazzo’s immediate resignation was sent to faculty and staff on March 25. The board has since repeatedly declined to comment on the reason for Milazzo’s sudden resignation and the costs associated with it.
Right-to-Know requests, including one filed by State Rep. Alec Ryncavage, have made the general release and separation agreement between the district and Milazzo public.
A copy of the agreement notes that Milazzo will receive two lump-sum payments of $67,000 over the next eight months and a reimbursement of $2,598.04, totaling $136,598.04. The district will also pay a $10,000 attorney fee to HKM Employment Attorneys LLP.
Milazzo will also receive “full pay and benefits, on a status of continuous leave” from March 25 through May 24, as well as maintained health insurance coverage through Dec. 31, unless she enrolls in a subsequent employer-sponsored health insurance plan in that time.
The agreement also contains a confidentiality clause, noting, “The parties agree not to disclose or discuss, other than with legal counsel, the terms or any details of this Agreement, except to the extent required by law.”
At Thursday’s board meeting, Brian Waite, a Fairview Township resident, asked for clarification on Milazzo’s total payout, considering the “status of continuous leave,” as noted in the agreement.
“These are things I think that the district should be more transparent about,” Waite said.
Board member Nanci Romanyshyn said she is a big proponent of transparency.
“I understand the strong interest in the superintendent separation agreement under respect that you want transparency, and I expect that, especially when public funds are involved,” Romanyshyn said.
“But we have to say, the board followed the legal counsel and all the applicable laws here because this is involving a personnel issue, and there is a legal agreement that we cannot disclose any more information,” she said.
Waite and David Greene, a Dorrance Township resident, asked why more information was not initially released if it is considered public, and why Right-to-Know requests were required.
Crestwood Solicitor Christopher Slusser said the board was directed by its counsel not to have comments on the agreement due to timing and legal issues. He also said the board always understood the information was public and would be released.
“The board was directed at that point in time to have no discussion about it and, quite frankly, moving forward because it’s a personnel matter,” Slusser said. “Boards don’t discuss personnel matters in public.”
Others raised concerns about the superintendent search, with some saying they felt the previous superintendent was not qualified. Milazzo was a business manager at Crestwood and Weatherly Area before assuming her superintendent position.
“I am concerned about the vetting process done by the board or legal counsel when we have a superintendent that appears to be not qualified,” said Mark Zurek, a Fairview Township resident, noting that a vetting process can help avoid upsetting taxpayers. “I put that on your shoulders to do a better job of vetting.”
Stefanie Weber, a Wright Township resident, asked when the selection process will start and if there will be parent representation.
“It’s been clearly shown that we just have candidates who have no experience, and unqualified individuals, and we think it’s very important to bring someone in outside of the Crestwood community,” Weber said.
Board member Patrick Patte said the board is putting together the job posting that will be posted within the next week.
“We are deciding, finalizing the process that we will go through to vetting the superintendent,” Patte said, noting all stakeholders will be involved.
Richard Nardone, a former Crestwood school board member and resident of Slocum Township, said Milazzo was qualified for the position. He alleged her resignation was “in effect, a constructive discharge” due to “unworkable” conditions, and that there were “active efforts underway to remove the superintendent” that he, Milazzo, and other sitting board members were aware of for months.
The board has not publicly discussed the reason for Milazzo’s resignation.
Board President Lauren McCurdy said after the meeting that it was a board decision to accept the resignation.
“There are a lot of different opinions out there,” McCurdy said about Nardone’s comment. “The board decided based on the information that they had.”
Budget update
Zurek also raised concerns about the upcoming budget.
“It appears that there’s a budget shortfall for the 26-27 school year with another tax increase,” he said. “We just cannot keep absorbing tax increases. We just can’t.”
Zurek noted rising costs creating challenges for residents and proposed making cuts.
At the April 9 Crestwood committee meeting, Business Manager Thomas Benz presented an early budget update. He noted a total revenue estimation of about $51.8 million and an expense estimation of about $53.3 million, with a $1.5 million budget gap.
Benz said the district can consider raising property taxes to the Act 1 Index of 4.4% to address the gap.
“Going all the way to the Act 1 Index, I don’t know if that’s something the board wants to do, but that’s one of their major levers that’s at their disposal,” Benz said.
Other initial solutions include reintroducing a late payment penalty for delinquent property taxes and potential changes to the adequacy gap state subsidy.
Benz also noted incremental headcount expenses, or expenses tied to additional proposed positions, with total costs of about $1.16 million. It includes: a teacher for $98,736; a human resource manager for $123,069; a clerical support staff member for $70,000; a building and grounds manager for $123,069; a special education investment for $650,000; and a nurse for $98,736.
There are plans for a capital meeting later this month. The tentative date is April 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Budget plans will be discussed further at upcoming committee and board meetings. The deadline for budget adoption is June 30.
