Date: Fri 15-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

schools-Bienkowski-Hexom-Dent

Full Text:

Newtown Schools Face A Wave Of Personnel Changes

BY KAAREN VALENTA

The Board of Education, meeting in executive session Tuesday evening, approved

the hiring of a new business manager for the school district and accepted the

resignation of Middle Gate Principal Gary Hexom, who is moving back to

California in June.

The board endorsed the appointment of Ronald J. Bienkowski, business manager

of the Ridgefield public schools, to fill the position left vacant when John

Torok, Jr left last month to work for the Danbury schools as director of

finances and support services.

Mr Bienkowski, who lives in Sandy Hook, "is considered one of the top business

managers in the entire state," said Board of Education Chairman Amy Dent. "He

is very, very skilled and has considerable negotiating experience. We did not

think we could ever attract someone of his caliber with the salary that we

could offer."

"He is taking a significant cut in salary to come here," she added. Mr Torok

would have been paid $84,000 in the next year of his contract.

Mrs Dent said the board felt that Mr Bienkowski has the skills that will be

needed to provide continuity if Superintendent of Schools John Reed retires.

"We are cognizant of the fact that John is reaching retirement age," she said.

"He's had a long tenure here, about 16 years I believe. We thought it

important to bring in someone with considerable experience."

Mr Bienkowski has been the business manager of the Ridgefield schools since

1991. Previously he was director of business and plant services at Region 15

in Southbury and Middlebury.

Mrs Dent said Mr Bienkowski was involved with the board committee that was

screening persons interviewing for the Newtown position. "As he came to know

about it and the needs of our community, he expressed an interest in the post

himself," she said. "He lives here and wanted to participate in solving the

needs of the community."

The school board chairman said that Gary Hexom, principal at Middle Gate for

the past two and one-half years, resigned because his wife, who is a

superintendent of schools at a district in New Haven County, is taking a

position in California.

"I understand that she has already moved back there," Mrs Dent said.

She also confirmed the report that Les Weintraub, principal of the Newtown

Middle School, has been offered a school superintendent's position in New York

state. "That's true, but I don't know if he has accepted it," she said, on

Thursday morning. Newtown schools were closed Thursday and Mr Weintraub could

not be reached for comment.

Major changes in school district personnel have taken place this year and are

expected to continue.

Last month Jo-Ann Peters, former assistant principal at East Haddam Elementary

School in Moodus, took the position of principal at Hawley Elementary School,

replacing Linda Siciliano, who left to become a principal in Danbury. Also

this school year, Frank Arnone came from the Weston schools to become

assistant principal at the Middle School, replacing Mary Lou Torre, who had

accepted a special education administrator's position in another state.

Susan Battersby, a science coordinator from Darien, joined Newtown High School

as an assistant principal to replace Marilyn Capizzano, who left to become

principal of a high school in New York state.

And a large number of teachers have announced that they are accepting early

retirement this year, Mrs Dent said.

"We're losing almost all the department heads at the high school," she said.

"One of the two co-chairmen of social studies is retiring, as are the math,

English, and science department heads. "We're losing teachers who will be very

difficult to replace. Math, science, Latin, chemistry, physics -- all

retiring."