Coatesville board accepts assistant superintendent's resignation
The Coatesville Area School District's board on Tuesday voted unanimously to accept the resignation of the district's assistant superintendent. The action came just days after the resignation of a school board member who, until last month, was vice president.
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/PD2MOM6RIFAETNLFJ7FZFKT3JE.jpg)
The Coatesville Area School District's board on Tuesday voted unanimously to accept the resignation of the district's assistant superintendent. The action came just days after the resignation of a school board member who, until last month, was vice president.
Angelo Romaniello, the former assistant superintendent, and James Fox, a former school board member, served during the administration of Richard Como, the former superintendent who was arrested last month and charged with dozens of counts of theft and state ethics violations.
For more than a year, some residents have called for the resignations of Romaniello, Fox, and the two other school board members who served while, Chester County prosecutors say, Como and athletic director Jim Donato stole money from the district.
A county grand jury report released last month did not recommend criminal charges for any other members of the administration or school board members.
Romaniello, who briefly served as interim superintendent in 2013 after Como's resignation, had been on paid administrative leave since November.
Romaniello worked for the school district for a decade. His resignation is effective Saturday.
"In light of various investigations of late, it is apparent that Dr. Romaniello and [the district] go their separate ways," Romaniello's lawyer, Robert J. Donatoni, said in a written statement. "He recognizes that it is time for [the district] to move on with fresh people and new ideas."
Fox, who joined the school board in 2011 and whose term would have expired this year, submitted his resignation to the board last weekend. He cited differences among board members and his lack of trust in some of them to keep information confidential.
He said Tuesday that public anger toward several school board members about the texting scandal and alleged theft was misplaced.
In Fox's resignation letter, the former vice president accused Board President Dean Snyder of demoting certain board members as a "disciplinary response" to "appease the public."
Beth Trapani, the district spokeswoman, said the district does not comment on personnel matters.
The board has 30 days from the date of Fox's resignation to fill his vacancy, according to the Pennsylvania Public School Code.
610-313-8207 @MichaelleBond