Schools
Wantagh BOE Addresses Contractual Agreement With Former Superintendent
Board of Education prepared a statement regarding legal matters with former Superintendent of Schools Phil D'Angelo.
Wantagh Board of Education President Michael Cucci addresed the current standing of former Superintendent of Schools Phil D'Angelo's contractual agreement four months after his departure from the district Thursday night.
D'Angelo was placed on leave by the Wantagh Board of Education on Sept. 14, less than three months into his role as superintendent, but it was revealed at the Dec. 13 board meeting that the district was continuing to pay D'Angelo's salary on top of Acting Superintendent Maureen Goldberg. He landed a new superintendent job with the Millbrook Central School District in Westchester County that began on Jan. 1.
Cucci assured the community that both parties are working with their attorneys to sever the contractual relationship.
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"We've been working very hard and we've been working daily," said Cucci during the school board meeting held in the Wantagh High School Auditorium. "There is no resolution at this point but we're working very hard to achieve it."
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Wantagh resident Mike Polazzalo faced the board with a slew of concerns, like why payments were being made if the district was in the right and when they expect this all to end, but Cucci was unable to delve into details.
"We're frustrated just the same way you're feeling frustration," Cucci said. "We'd like to talk about it, but we're advised not to. Our attorney did say that once this is all a matter of record, he will be happy to be here and questions will be addressed then."
Another resident questioned whether or not the district would be found in this predicament again and wondered what they are doing to prevent a similar situation in the future.
"If my husband left his job, he wouldn't be getting paid if he went to another job," she said. "Obviously legal missed something or he had a really good lawyer. You can see my concern."
Cucci said that the incident will definitely be taken into consideration while moving forward with a new superintendent and the district's legal team.
