A “microaggression” was large enough to price one superintendent candidate his dream job, he says.
Vito Perrone stated he’s “shocked” and “devastated” after the Easthampton School Committee pulled again its provide for him to guide the district as a result of he used the time period “ladies” in an electronic mail to the committee chair.
Perrone stated he was all excited to turn out to be the superintendent of Easthampton Public Schools, however the rug was pulled out from beneath him after his electronic mail to School Committee Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski and the School Committee assistant.
Perrone, the interim superintendent of West Springfield Public Schools, had addressed the pair as “ladies” within the electronic mail that was going over three negotiation factors after the School Committee had supplied him the superintendent job.
Following that electronic mail, Perrone was invited to an govt session held over Zoom. After the School Committee met alone for about 45 minutes, Kwiecinski knowledgeable Perrone that the committee had voted to rescind the superintendent provide.
“I was shocked,” Perrone, 58, stated on Monday. “I basically said, ‘What?’”
He stated he was informed within the non-public assembly, “‘Because the email you sent was addressed to ladies and that was a microaggression, and it was disrespectful and unacceptable… As an educational leader, you should know that was a microaggression. You can’t lead us in the direction we want to go in this district.’ ”
This was first reported by the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and the story has since been picked up by nationwide publications.
Growing up within the Sixties and 70s, Perrone stated the phrases “ladies” and “gentlemen” had been respectful, and it’s why he used “ladies” within the electronic mail.
During the non-public assembly, Perrone stated he responded, “‘If I offended you, I apologize. It wasn’t my intent.’”
He was then requested to depart the chief session.
“I was devastated,” Perrone informed the Herald. “I was very excited about the prospect of coming back to Easthampton where I was a principal before, and to have it taken away like that is pretty devastating.”
He stated he talked with a lawyer from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, who informed him there was no authorized recourse as a result of he hadn’t signed something.
The Herald on Monday reached out to Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who’s on the School Committee, for a remark about rescinding the superintendent provide.
“The Mayor is awaiting legal clarification around Executive Session privilege before commenting and the City cannot comment on personnel matters,” responded Lindsi Mailler, govt assistant within the Mayor’s Office.
The Herald additionally reached out to the School Committee chairperson, Kwiecinski. She didn’t instantly reply to remark.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”