Principal Jack Rizzo resigned effective Dec. 23, after six months on the job. Megan Farrell, administrator for curriculum and support, will step in as the interim school principal.
Oak Bluffs school principal Jack Rizzo has announced his resignation, effective Dec. 23, according to superintendent of schools Matthew D’Andrea. Mr. Rizzo moved to Martha’s Vineyard to take the position, which comes with a $120,000 per year salary, six months ago.
Megan Farrell, administrator for curriculum and support who has worked in the Island school system for 18 years, will step in as the interim school principal.
“Timing is always a challenge when you change leadership in a building, whether it’s in the middle of the year, or over the summer,” Mr. D’Andrea said. “What’s most important is the individual you have moving into the position. I have a tremendous amount of respect and confidence in Megan.”
Mr. Rizzo previously served as the head of school at St. Theresa School in Honolulu, Hawaii, before moving to serve as principal at the Milton Bradley School in Springfield. He has a master’s degree in education from Westfield State College and received his doctorate of education in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts. He was not immediately available for comment.
Mr. D’Andrea informed parents of the resignation in a letter dated Dec. 22.
“Dr. Rizzo had hoped that he might settle on the Vineyard with his wife and be closer to family in New England,” Mr. D’Andrea wrote. “Unfortunately for our community, that will not be the case. Dr. Rizzo’s wife is unable to join him on the Vineyard so Dr. Rizzo will return to Hawaii where he will be most happy. I understand his need to return and feel only fondness towards Dr. Rizzo.”
Mr. D’Andrea said he has not yet decided on a plan for hiring a principal to the position permanently.
“I haven’t really decided exactly what that’s going to look like,” Mr. D’Andrea said. “We’ll probably have to do a search.”
Comments
No great loss. I won't miss
Brian Smith Oak BluffsNo great loss. I won't miss the weekly emails about how much he "loved" our children. We don't send our daughter to school for love, she gets plenty of that at home. I send her to school for an education. We need to focus on what attributes the next candidate for principal brings in terms of focus on a well rounded education.
Really?? Totally understand
Tammy Deese HyannisReally?? Totally understand your point on education but as my kids went through the OB school system and MVRHS I never heard a word from anyone unless they did something wrong..I didn't even know who Mr Binney was or what he looked like for over 4 years pretty sad!! My youngest completed his senior year at Barnstable HS and I was a nervous wreck after all the horror stories I read in the Cape Cod Times..best school ever..got called every Friday letting me know what was happening the next week up coming events and concerns the administration had and the principle newsletter every month.. Just sad that you don't think a teacher/principle should love your child after all would you prefer they were tyrants and evil beings and have your child scared to go to school
nothing good comes out of the
Bob Edgartownnothing good comes out of the Springfield school system and that should of been the first red flag. Rizzo must be a doctor of BS for doing this to a school system.
Why are we loosing so many
Christine White EdgartownWhy are we loosing so many people in higher positions. I know the search committees works hard to get the best, but is there some questions missing or are these people just not telling the truth.
I'd happily take his place.
Stephanie Smith FloridaI'd happily take his place.
So much for the Vetting
J.P.W. EdgartownSo much for the Vetting system. Sounds like Homeland Security! Our tax $$$ at work!
For a salary of $120,000 per
Sandi OBFor a salary of $120,000 per year I am sure the school district can find a well grounded, principled, dedicated and committed Islander who will make the children's education and development a priority; rather than these heads of schools accepting the job and having their personal lives being the priority. It is time for the school district to offer that salary to a well established educator living on the Vineyard. If the school districts cannot serve the students well, I say put it to a vote and allow parents to choose their children's head of schools.
Housing is a common thread in
George Stein EdgartownHousing is a common thread in quality people leaving. Provide housing will retain staff. Let us examine the results of the survey of Island teachers when it arrives. Exit interviews would expose this thread.
That is a good point. $120
KirkThat is a good point. $120,000 a year seems like a lot of money per year until you try and find housing on the Cape and Islands that is affordable. Are there any houses on the Vineyard under $300,000 that anybody would want to live in? Just an idea here. Why doesn't the Vineyard take action and build some decent housing for educators to use while employed at Island schools. Charge the educators reasonable rates and over time the cost of building the housing will be reimbursed . Action like this would be a win for everybody on the Island.
You guys spend a lot of money
Susan McConnell Barrington, IllinoisYou guys spend a lot of money importing talent and the truth is you have a lot of talent right in front of you that will serve you well and serve you long term. Reward those qualified people who live on the Island.
These surface explanations
Rex Treadwell EdgartownThese surface explanations for departing from two recent principals are likely as accurate as politicians explaining their resignations as motivated by a desire to spend more time with their family. Perhaps their experiences left something to be desired.
Typically an administrator is
Barrett Hodges TisburyTypically an administrator is a teacher who wants to receive more money for spending less time with kids. That said, I'm aware that off island administrators often find the "Island Way" of doing things maddening and elect to return to the real world as soon as possible. Too many entrenched interests making needed change unnecessarily difficult.
Could you please give written
Kirk DiRubio Cataumet, MACould you please give written examples to prove, "Typically an administrator is a teacher who wants to receive more money for spending less time with kids."
Reality requires no
Barrett Hodges TisburyReality requires no documentation, though any candid conversation behind the scenes would likely bear the point out. Granted, you might find some who are driven for reasons beyond ego, burnout and desire for larger salaries, but I'd imagine these are the rare ducks in the flock.
That reply failed to prove
Kirk DiRubio Cataumet, MAThat reply failed to prove your theory. Your emotions are clear but your allegations are cloudy. The true problem is a lack of decent, affordable and comfortable housing. Put yourself in the shoes of a non islander trying to manage a career and housing on the island. $120,000 is not nearly enough money to manage a life on Vineyard worth having. Two solutions that might help. Either start paying real salaries that match the economic truth of the housing market or band together and build some very comfortable apartments or housing developments that are price regulated by sliding scale according to the educators salary. For example a young teacher who makes $30,000 a year would pay 25% rent versus an educator making $100,000.
Having an educator leave
June Manning AquinnahHaving an educator leave students in mid-year is often devastating. Our dearly beloved English Teacher Stanley Ashe at Pleasantville Junior High School left us mid-year. We never recovered. More than fifty of us signed a petition to bring him back. He was truly adored. We finally brought him back - to our Pleasantville High School 50th Class reunion in June 2014. More than thirty of us who had signed the petition were there at the reunion. We even had a special photograph of all of us surrounding Mr. Ashe. Many of my former schoolmates from Pleasantville reside on the Vineyard.
Obviously, a little more thought needs to go into those that are being hired to be on the Vineyard. The family of MVRHS principal Traverso did not move here from Connecticut, nor did Mr. Rizzo's family move here from Hawaii. The lure of the Vineyard is often appealing but once here that diminishes rather abruptly. It is a story told over and over in many sectors and should start affecting their contracts upon their applying to a position. Let them foot their own bill for moving, etc. We have many dedicated educators on the Vineyard and I am sure someone has the credentials to fill the position. Thank you to Peg Regan for stepping in during the interim.
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