Marino takes over Winsted special education

WINSTED — Winchester Public Schools will have a familiar face heading its special education department over the remainder of this year’s summer vacation.

Richard Marino, who served as Winchester’s pupil services director from September 1969 to August 1984, was appointed the district’s interim director of special education services at the Board of Education’s meeting July 20.

The current pupil personnel services director, Catherine Tower, resigned from her post in May to take a position with the Wheeler Clinic, a private not-for-profit community agency that provides behavioral health services. Her last day in Winchester’s central office is July 31.

According to Superintendent of Schools Blaise Salerno, Marino is contracted to work two days this month and 10 days next month at a rate of $300 per day, for a total interim salary of $3,600. He will receive no benefits.

The school board voted 6-2 at last week’s meeting to approve Salerno’s recommendation that Marino take over the post on a temporary basis.

Board member Carol Palomba abstained from the vote because, she said, she did not feel she had enough information about Marino or his qualifications for the position.

O’Meara recused himself because, he said, he had had a negative experience during his “personal dealings� with Marino when the administrator was working within Winchester’s special education office a few years ago.

“He was here four or five years ago and left abruptly, and we’re going to bring him back.   He left the summer program in a shambles,â€� O’Meara said of Marino, as the board discussed the appointment at last week’s meeting.

Board of Education Chairman Kathleen O’Brien said, however, that Marino is a “very efficient� administrator and a “personable guy.�

“He’s always focused on the details,� O’Brien said.

Salerno said each of Marino’s references gave him a very positive endorsement and that all of his required certifications are valid and in order.

Most recently, Marino worked within the West Hartford Public School system as the principal of Smith School in 2006-07, and then as a part-time department supervisor in the district’s pupil personnel services from 2007-08.

“He’s another retired person who just can’t seem to let go,� Salerno said.

In a June 21 letter offering his assistance to the district, Marino said he feels he owes his “very successful 20-year career with the West Hartford Public Schools to the training I had in Winsted.�

“I have had the opportunity to work as a special education teacher at all levels and with all disabilities, a coordinator of special education services, a director of pupil personnel services, a department supervisor of special education services, an elementary school principal, a principal in a private K-8 school and an assistant superintendent managing grants and financial services,� he wrote in the letter. “While each job over my 40-year career presented challenges, they were also great learning experiences which I found very energizing.�

Salerno said while he is willing to help the district as best he can as an interim appointment, Marino has no interest in serving in the position on a permanent, full-time basis.

The district continues to advertise and accept applications from candidates interested in the post.

Tower’s last few months with the district were not without controversy. She submitted her resignation only days after news broke that she had had a several-month lapse last year in her state teaching certification due to a lack of paperwork required by the state Department of Education.

All Connecticut educators are required to obtain and maintain their certification in order to teach in a public school.

Tower, however, told The Journal that her decision to apply for the Wheeler Clinic position was unrelated to her certification problem.

She is now in full compliance with all state teaching certification requirements.

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