PHS Principal Vote Fails

A vote to appoint John Martucci as interim principal at Plainfield High School failed Tuesday (Nov. 20, 2007).

The resolution called for Martucci to receive $134,960 on a pro-rated basis, plus $2,000 longevity, for the 2007-08 school year. The appointment would have been effective Dec. 10. Those who voted “yes” were Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, Lenny Cathcart and Christian Estevez. Wilma Campbell, Lisa Logan Leach and Bridget Rivers voted “no” and Board President Patricia Barksdale and Vickey Sheppard abstained.

At present, Interim Assistant Superintendent Walter Rusak is also the interim high school principal. A recent search for a new high school principal yielded no results and officials said a new search will begin in the spring.

But Rusak has resigned, effective Dec. 31, so there is some new urgency to get a high school principal.

The school board did approve the appointment of Deborah Cummings Celestand as vice-principal at the high school Tuesday.

Celestand was listed on the district web site as interim vice principal, along with four vice principals, including Martucci.

- Bernice Paglia