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Concerns about Warren St. head raised in letter

April 3, 2009
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald

JOHNSTOWN - Jansen Avenue Elementary School's tenured teachers and support staff wrote a letter to the Greater Johnstown School District Tuesday expressing "anxiety and trepidation" about possibly working under Warren Street Elementary School Principal Anne Christiano now that their school is closing.

The Leader-Herald obtained a copy of the letter, which is dated March 31 and was sent from Jansen's "tenured teachers and support staff" to district Superintendent Katherine A. Sullivan. Members of the district's Board of Education also were sent copies of the letter.

Unable to be reached this morning were Sullivan, who was in Albany today, and Johnstown Teachers Association Co-Presidents Kathy Zajicek and Louise Carville, who were in Buffalo on union matters.

Board President Robert Curtis acknowledged today the letter was discussed by the board during a closed-door, executive session at Thursday night's board meeting at Johnstown High School. The reason given for the session was listed by the board as to "discuss the employment history of a particular person."

"We did discuss the fact we did receive a letter," Curtis said.

But the board president was quick to note the letter was not signed and didn't have anyone's name attached to it. He said he was reluctant to discuss it for that reason.

"I'm not going to ruin a person's reputation over an unsigned letter," Curtis said.

Curtis said he doesn't "buy it" if the people who wrote the letter are fearing reprisal or retribution by not attaching their names. He said if the district receives a letter that puts a student in "harm," the district is quick to act, but not in the case of an unsigned letter that is "defaming staff."

The other nine members of the school board couldn't be reached this morning. Christiano didn't return a phone call this morning seeking comment.

Jansen Avenue Elementary School kindergarten teacher Ellen Jones today said the letter is authentic, although she was reluctant to speak about it without having first talked to a Johnstown Teachers Association union representative.

"I think the letter speaks for itself," Jones said. "It was done professionally and tactfully."

She said there have been 31 teachers and other district employees who have "opted to leave" Warren Street Elementary School over recent years because of Christiano.

Curtis said the 31 figure is a "gross exaggeration."

He said Christiano's probationary appointment is due to expire in June and her "tenured candidacy" will be discussed by the board at its April 29 meeting at JHS. Last June, the board voted 6-3 to extend the appointment to June 30, but her name was not on a list of 12 district employees granted tenure by the board last April, although she was eligible.

Jones said she personally spent 18 years at Warren Street Elementary School before she asked to relocate a couple years ago because of Christiano. She said she finally got her wish last September when she was moved to Jansen, which the board recently decided to close at the end of the school year.

The letter, in part, reads: "Our only serious and perhaps even impassible hurdle in making the move to new buildings revolves around the anxiety and trepidation we feel when we confront the possibility of working under the direction of Anne Christiano, current principal at Warren Street Elementary School. Many of us have had unpleasant encounters and disturbing conversations with Mrs. Christiano. Those of us who have not personally experienced her unpredictable nature have heard enough retellings from reputable sources to make us uneasy."

The letter indicates that Jansen teachers and support staff "can't help but wonder why teachers, aides, secretaries, nurses, and custodians too numerous to count have opted to leave their positions at Warren Street School in the short time Mrs. Christiano has served as building principal. Some of us remember interviewing Mrs. Christiano in the spring of 2004 when she applied to fill the vacancy created when former Jansen Avenue Principal Mr. Richard Tucci retired. Even at that time we felt strongly that she was not a suitable match for our school community."

Sullivan said Thursday night that she will meet Tuesday with the Jansen Avenue Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, but Curtis said that was set up prior to the letter coming out.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.

 
 

 

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Fact Box

CONTENT OF LETTER

March 31, 2009

Katherine A. Sullivan, Superintendent

Greater Johnstown School District

1 Sir Bills Circle / Suite 101

Johnstown NY 12095

Dear Mrs. Sullivan,

As is written on the Greater Johnstown School District's home web page, winter has dissipated and spring is emerging, and we, the staff at Jansen Avenue Elementary School, are preparing for a new season in our professional lives. Declining enrollment, the threat of a potential reduction in State aid, and ever-increasing operating costs have forced our Board of Education to make the difficult decision to close our school.

We feel that it is incumbent upon us to not only personally accept and respect the Board's decision, but to also articulate this change in both a positive and professional manner when speaking to our students, parents, and community members. We agree with the Restructuring Committee's view that redistricting our students has benefits. It will allow them to socially connect with new classmates and to be challenged by a larger cadre of excellent elementary teachers. We have confidence in our students' abilities to make the required transitions and we believe that because they are talented, responsible, and enthusiastic learners they will positively impact their new schools.

Our only serious and perhaps even impassible hurdle in making the move to new buildings revolves around the anxiety and trepidation we feel when we confront the possibility of working under the direction of Ann Christiano, current principal at Warren Street Elementary School. Many of us have had unpleasant encounters and disturbing conversations with Mrs. Christiano. Those of us who have not personally experienced her unpredictable nature have heard enough retellings from reputable sources to make us uneasy. We can't help but wonder why teachers, aides, secretaries, nurses, and custodians too numerous to count have opted to leave their positions at Warren Street School in the short time Mrs. Christiano has served as building principal. Some of us remember interviewing Mrs. Christiano in the spring of 2004 when she applied to fill the vacancy created when former Jansen Avenue Principal Mr. Richard Tucci retired. Even at that time we felt strongly that she was not a suitable match for our school community.

Conversely, our year with Ms. Colleen Lester as principal has been rewarding. We have enjoyed working for her and with her. She has treated each of us respectfully and in a considerate manner and has developed an excellent rapport with students and parents as well. We believe she would manage the increased demands of a larger combined elementary school well and she would have our support in doing so.

In closing, it is our sincerest hope that you consider and reflect upon our concerns. We are committed to providing the best education possible for our Johnstown students and we are asking that you take the steps necessary to provide us with effective leadership.

Saying good-bye to the students and families we have worked so well with, packing up years of accumulated educational materials, and the not knowing where we'll be next year causes us to feel enough stress. Need we have yet another worry?

Sincerely,

The Jansen Avenue Tenured Teachers and Support Staff

cc: Members of the Johnstown Board of Education