WELLINGTON — There’s a new boss in the Wellington Schools, and the staff is giving him high marks for enthusiasm and early accomplishments.

After just three weeks on the job, Superintendent Francis Robert Scruci has his eye on the prize: convincing voters to approve extra tax money to build a new kindergarten-through-grade-12 school near the site of the current Wellington High School.

“We know it will be an uphill battle, but we’ll stay focused on the kids and what’s best for them,” Scruci said.

Already he has brainstormed with staff and a levy committee and settled on a slogan — “Chance of a Lifetime.”

If voters pass a $26.7-mill bond issue, the district will receive 46 percent state funding from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

“How many times do you get $20 million offered to you without a lottery ticket?” he asked.

Other slogans that may be incorporated in the campaign are “It’s Our Time,” “It’s Our Turn” and “Once in a Lifetime,” he said.

School Board President Marian Nirode said it’s too early to make snap judgments, but Scruci “has worked with the board well so far.”

The bond issue campaign is the biggest issue facing voters, and Scruci is meeting lots of people, she said.

“He was at the football game, and people are getting to know him,” she said.

School staff and union representatives said Scruci is driven and demanding — but in the nicest way.

“At least he seems friendly — the other guy certainly wasn’t very friendly,” said Ralph Wright, president of the Wellington Schools Support Staff.

Wright was referring to former Superintendent Victor Cardenzana, who crossed swords with the unions and once suggested some teachers earned more than he did.

Cardenzana was the subject of death threats from one former teacher who ran afoul of the law and was sentenced to jail time for the threats.

Dean Baker, the transportation and maintenance supervisor, called Scruci “much more task-driven” than Cardenzana, who served three years before retiring.

“He assigns tasks for us and has high expectations and wants to raise the bar,” Baker said.

Linda Repko, co-president of the Wellington Education Association, called Scruci “very approachable, very understanding and willing to work with us on various issues.”

For example, the union asked for — and received — an assurance that teachers who agree to mentor new teachers would not be negatively affected during teacher evaluations, she said. There are eight to nine new teachers needing mentors, and the union did not believe that mentorship reviews should be part of overall evaluations, she said. 

“Mr. Scruci has been very conscientious about the contract,” Repko said.

She said he has been posting positions that should first be offered to current staff before the superintendent goes outside the district —  another bone of contention between Cardenzana and the teachers union.

Midview School Superintendent Howard Dulmage, the interim superintendent before Cardenzana, said he met Scruci and was impressed “right off the bat.”

Cardenzana, who was born and raised in Australia, “had that Aussie temperament — he was a pretty tough guy, pretty hard-nosed,” Dulmage said.

Wellington’s soft-spoken school treasurer, Suzanne Wilson, said she got along fine with Cardenzana and expects a good working relationship with Scruci.

“He seems to be a nice guy and here for the right reasons — the kids,” Wilson said.

She walked down with Scruci into what she calls “the dungeon” basements at McCormick Middle School, where tape covers pipes and a cloying odor of dampness hangs in the air. The basements are used for some classes and tornado drills.

While McCormick is old — it’s oldest portion was built in 1867, it has had some work done on it in anticipation of the arrival of students.

Scruci said that keeping the buildings in good condition will continue to be his philosophy, no matter what happens in the November election.

“If we’re going to get a new building these buildings have to last another three years,” he said.

Throughout the process, Scruci said, the public will be informed.

Scruci said building architects are working hard on plans for the new school, and there may be some models available by the time of a community breakfast set for Sept. 6.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

 

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