Administrators on leave, new school district forms; more change at O-ECS

By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

OPPENHEIM — There’s been another change in leadership at Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School.

When O-ECS District Superintendent Dan Russom and D.H. Robbins Principal Chris Fatta were placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons late last week, members of the Oppenheim-Ephratah Board of Education appointed Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES Superintendent Patrick Michel to serve as the acting superintendent of that district, which is in the process of merging with St. Johnsville.

Following a closed session Tuesday night, O-E board members rescinded the prior motion and approved a new one, appointing Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Mark Vivacqua to serve in that capacity instead.

A press release posted to the H-F-M BOCES website Tuesday afternoon explained why the switch was necessary: “In the statutory role as representative of the New York State Education Department, a BOCES district superintendent is required to assume the responsibility of superintendent in any component district when the position becomes vacant.”

The release noted that while the merger vote between Oppenheim-Ephratah and St. Johnsville Central Schools “technically created a new school district when the final vote was certified... Oppenheim-Ephratah CSD remains a component of Herkimer BOCES until June 30.”

Michel, who was not present for the videoconference with Vivacqua and the O-ECS board Tuesday night, wrote, “Mr. Vivacqua’s long-term relationship with the district and its board makes him a more natural person to guide Oppenheim-Ephratah at this time. He has been gracious enough to step into that role.”

During public comment Tuesday, an O-ECS District resident asked if accusations against Russom will be made public if they are determined to have merit.

Vivacqua said district residents should appreciate that the board is following the advice of their attorney. “There are legal and contractual obligations,” he said.

“Whatever comes out will come out when it’s supposed to under the laws of New York state. There are no charges right now. There’s really nothing to report,” he added.

“Folks know there was something last week that occurred, and the board took action. Nothing has happened since the end of last week,” Vivacqua said.

On Jan. 31, Michel placed both Russom and Fatta on administrative leave until further notice.

In order to address rumors that were starting to circulate following a posting about the matter on the district’s websites and official Facebook page, Michel after a joint meeting of the two boards in the St. Johnsville Junior-Senior High School last Thursday said that he didn’t want people jumping to conclusions.

“What we’re dealing with here has nothing to do with children or with fiscal impropriety. It has nothing to do with funds being used improperly,” he said.

Michel said simply that “a mistake was made.”

When asked about the process that is taking place, Michel explained that he had “received phone calls from concerned people. I called [St. Johnsville District Superintendent Laura Campione-Lawrence] and asked her to investigate the allegations. She reported back to me, and I felt it reached the level that I needed to get involved.”

He said he was at the district all day Thursday, interviewing people in Oppenheim-Ephratah and St. Johnsville. Additionally, he interviewed Russom and took actions that he thought necessary at the time.

He said O-ECS board members are “deeply appreciative of what Mr. Russom has done for the district,” said Michel. “He’s done a great job for Oppenheim-Ephratah. A lot of the things presented tonight [that is, information related to programs and technology] are because of Dan Russom.”

However, “the board feels strongly that Mr. Russom is not the person to lead the district to completion,” he added.

When asked if that meant that Russom was being discharged, Michel said that was not the case.

Being placed on administrative leave does not imply guilt or innocence, said Michel. It does, however, make an investigation “pure” because the individuals being investigated aren’t present.

Neither administrator is allowed to enter the district until the boards take action, said Michel. He confirmed that both are continuing to be paid.

Campione-Lawrence said that she would be filling in at the D.H. Robbins Elementary School in Fatta’s absence.

Michel said Russom has been superintendent of the O-ECS district for nine years.

Fatta was hired to serve as elementary principal at St. Johnsville during the middle of the 2011-2012 school year. Prior to that, he was Oppenheim-Ephratah’s K-12 principal, according to a Jan. 26, 2012 article in the C-S-E.